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.
- 4/30/03 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
- Birds observed included
Tree Swallows, 3 Blue birds, 1 House Wren, 3 Towhees, 3 R. K Kinglets, 5
Palm Warblers, 7 Yellow-Rump Warbler, 1 Yellow Warbler , 3 Flickers, and 2 Wood Ducks .
(report from John Shea).
- 4/30/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 30, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 0 31 111
> Osprey 1 170 170
> Bald Eagle 0 10 13
> Northern Harrier 0 18 20
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 155 169
> Cooper's Hawk 0 10 20
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 10 36
> Broad-winged Hawk 2 883 883
> Red-tailed Hawk 0 39 125
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 0 45 52
> Merlin 0 4 6
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 15 28
>
> Total: 4 1391 1637
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 09:00:00
> Observation end time: 13:00:00
> Total observation time: 4 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling
>
> Visitors:
> George Gove and Judy Gordon
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/30/03 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
-
Hilites from an hour spent in High Ridge WMA before work this AM:
Great Blue heron 2;
Am. Bittern 1;
Green-winged Teal 14;
Hooded Merganser 2;
Yellow-rumped Warbler ~10;
Black + White Warbler 2;
Savanaha Sparrow 1;
Swamp Sparrow 3;
Purple Finch 1;
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/29/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 29, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 0 31 111
> Osprey 2 169 169
> Bald Eagle 0 10 13
> Northern Harrier 1 18 20
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 154 168
> Cooper's Hawk 0 10 20
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 10 36
> Broad-winged Hawk 20 881 881
> Red-tailed Hawk 0 39 125
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 1 45 52
> Merlin 0 4 6
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 15 28
>
> Total: 27 1387 1633
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 08:00:00
> Observation end time: 13:00:00
> Total observation time: 5 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant
> Observations:
> We watched two Broadwings lock talons and spin and tumble towards the
ground.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/29/03 -- Northbridge Filter Beds
-
I went to the Northbridge Filter Beds Tuesday evening.
Nearly every filter bed contains water at varying depths. They are in
excellent condition for shorebirds. There were 2 Spotted Sandpipers, 1
Greater Yellowlegs and 8 Killdeer there.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/29/03 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
- The
Bank Swallows have returned to
Sterling Peat just in time to consume the flying insects that have
appeared in great numbers over the weekend. At least 40 swallows are
present and they are busy nest building at Sand Hill Island in Muddy
Pond. Other birds seen include: Spotted Sandpiper (1), a
Mourning Dove on her nest,
Tree Swallows (~ 50), Brown Creeper (4). Pine. Palm and
Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Northern Waterthrush and Savannah Sparrow ( 5).
Just like Rick Quimby mentioned in his posting I also had several
White-throated Sparrows at my feeder yesterday.
(report from Bob Ricci).
- 4/29/03 -- Holden
-
At 8:00 a.m. the backyard of my house was invaded by a flock of 10 to 12
white-throated sparrows. In the past, the normal count has been around 4
white-throated sparrows at a time. The sparrows stayed throughout the
entire day foraging on the lawn and the leaves and the old seed remains
by the stonewall. In the afternoon, they were joined by two male Eastern
Towhees for a little while. Later, a male black and white warbler
appeared and flitted among the branches of the blue spruce close to where
the sparrows were foraging. In the meantime, the nesting pair of
nuthatches continued to work on their nest in the maple tree. The nesting
pair of blue jays in my neighborhood flew in and out of the
yard all day. The nearby nesting pair of downy woodpeckers continued to
visit the backyard birdfeeder. Quite a bit of activity for a small
suburban backyard. (report from Steve Olson)
- 4/29/03 -- Grafton Conservation area, Grafton
-
This morning at Grafton Conservation area along rt122
at Quinsigamond River I had the following species:
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (1male), Palm Warbler(1),
Warbling Vireo(2), Chimney Swift(1), Yellow-rumped
Warbler(48), Ruby-crowned Kinglet(1), Wood Duck(3m)
and Kingfisher(1).
(report from Nickilas Paulson).
- 4/29/03 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- A nice collection of migrants at noon, including 37 Double-crested
Cormorants (flock of 35 soaring high overhead), 1 Hermit Thrush,
1 WOOD THRUSH (singing), 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Pine Warbler,
1 Black-and-white Warbler, 1 Eastern Towhee, 10+ White-throated Sparrows
(singing -- I also had 5 under my feeder in W. Boylston), and
1 BALTIMORE ORIOLE. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/29/03 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
-
In addition to what John Liller had this morning, I had 1 Wild Turkey, 2
Red-tailed Hawks, 3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 6 N. Flickers, 1 LEAST
FLYCATCHER, 26 Yellow-rumped and 7 Palm Warblers, and 8 Towhees. The
warblers were all concentrated along the flooded part of the brookside
trail, but it is walkable with hiking boots. (report from Howard Shainheit).
- 4/29/03 -- Raymond Road, Gardner
-
A few hilites from brief stops this am:
Hairy Woodpecker 4;
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1;
Black+White Warbler 1;
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6;
Northern Waterthrush 1;
Eastern towhee 1;
White-throated Sparrow 3;
Swamp Sparrow 1.
This is "very" ontime for Northern Waterthrush for the last several
years I've checked this location in late April for "this"(of course it
may not be the same bird) territorial N. Waterthrush ... the "in" dates
for the last 5 years....5/2/1998....4/27/1999....4/30/2000....4/26/2001
and 4/24/2002.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/29/03 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
- Highlights this morning:
Great Blue Heron (1 - flyover);
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (1 - flushed from the edge of the brook; this is
only the 2nd record of this species on the Sanctuary);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Hairy Woodpecker (1);
Northern Flicker (2);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4);
Eastern Bluebird (2);
Brown Thrasher (2);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (11);
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (1);
OVENBIRD (1 - 1st April record for the Sanctuary);
Eastern Towhee (3);
Field Sparrow (2);
Song Sparrow (18);
Swamp Sparrow (5 - two were singing on territory in the Wet Meadow);
White-throated Sparrow (11);
Red-winged Blackbird (54 - while the number is not overly large, many of
them
were singing on territory in the Wet Meadow; this is a result of
the beaver);
RUSTY BLACKBIRD (1);
Brown-headed Cowbird (10);
(report from John Liller).
- 4/28/03 -- downtown Worcester
- I saw the Peregrine Falcon this morning on top of the glass bank
building downtown.
(report from John Shea).
- 4/28/03 -- All Faith's Cemetery, Worcester
- The pair of Mute Swans is working on a new nest
just below route 290 in the marsh. The Mute Swan is still on the nest at Notre
Dame Cemetery.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).
- 4/28/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 28, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 0 31 111
> Osprey 4 167 167
> Bald Eagle 0 10 13
> Northern Harrier 0 17 19
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 151 165
> Cooper's Hawk 0 10 20
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 10 36
> Broad-winged Hawk 114 861 861
> Red-tailed Hawk 1 39 125
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 1 44 51
> Merlin 1 4 6
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 15 28
>
> Total: 130 1360 1606
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 07:00:00
> Observation end time: 13:00:00
> Total observation time: 6 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling
> Observations:
The bright cloudless sky made it impossible to see raptors after 10:00 EST
if there were any.
>
> 2 Purple Martins and a Chimney Swift briefly joined the feeding local Tree
Swallows.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/28/03 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights at noon included 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron (ad),
2 Carolina Wrens, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler,
and 2 White-throated Sparrows. Another highlight was crossing paths
with Joan Zumpfe, who was looking for the Screech Owl (not present
today). (report from Rick Quimby)
Note added: after I left, Joan had a Prairie Warbler, a Palm Warbler, and a
Yellow-rumped Warbler in the same places I had checked earlier, but
she did not find the Black-crowned Night-Heron. This
illustrates nicely how any one visit to a location does not necessarily
give a true representation of the birds that can be found there. Repeated
visits, over an extended period of time, are needed.
- 4/28/03 -- Oxbow NWR, Harvard
-
An early morning trip to Oxbow yielded the following sightings: 10+ wood ducks,
1 female merlin (perched 50 ft up in an oak tree for about a minute), 1 female
kestrel (a pair were resident here last year, but this year, so far, no male),
2 kingfishers, 5 flickers, 3 downy woodpeckers, 2 meadowlarks, 1 hermit thrush,
1 r.c. kinglet, 1 b.g. gnatcatcher, 3 b+w warblers, 2 pine warblers, 12 swamp
sparrows, 2 savannah sparrows, 2 w.th. sparrows. (report from Andrea Burke).
- 4/28/03 -- Leesville Pond (All Faiths Cemetery), Worcester
-
A quick "before work" trip to All Faiths had the following:
Double-crested Cormorant (2);
Great Blue Heron (2);
Mute Swan (pair tending nest);
Canada Goose (5);
Wood Duck (10);
Mallard (7);
Killdeer (1);
E. Phoebe (1);
Tree Swallow (2);
N. Rough-winged Swallow (1);
Barn Swallow (1);
Yellow Warbler (1);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (48);
Palm Warbler (1);
PLUS: (1) RIVER OTTER.
A quick drive through HOPE CEMETERY had:
Wood Duck (1 drake flying from high hole in tree in middle of cemetery);
House Wren (1);
N. Mockingbird (10);
Brown Thrasher (1).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 4/28/03 -- Raymond Road/Kelton Street, Gardner
-
Hilites from a series of stops this am:
Common Loon 2;
Double Crested Cormorant 7;
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 female;
Blue-headed Vireo 1;
Hermit Thrush 1;
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3;
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 nest building;
Yellow-rumped Warbler 7;
White-throated Sparrow 2 singing.
The two G-C Kinglets were collecting moss from the side of a few White
Pine trees and bringing it to a specific location on a Norway Spruce. I
could not see the actual nest as it was hidden by the foliage (up 15-20'
high). Over the years this spot has consistant for GC Kinglets during
breeding season.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/27/03 -- Forbush Bird Club Trip : Shrewsbury and Grafton
-
Highlights were: (1) a singing Brown Thrasher at Rotary Park; (2)
fantastic looks at a female Red-bellied Woodpecker (showing a yellow throat) at
Mike's home, where his wife Nancy treated us to home-made pastries: (3) walking
along the power lines at Pleasant Street in Grafton to view 2 Great Horned Owl
owlets sitting in their nest on a tower less than a mile from the road
(overlooking Fisherville Pond). One parent was also seen in the nest when we
looked from near the road. The owlets appear to be close to fledging.
Complete report here
(report from Joan Zumpfe).
- 4/27/03 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
-
Hilites at High Ridge WMA in Gardner and
Westminster:
Great Blue Heron 20 active nest platforms in
Westminster;
Black Duck 1;
Green-wing Teal 14;
Wood Duck 10;
Hooded Merganser 5;
Turkey Vulture 2;
Osprey 3;
Red-shoulded Hawk 1 appeared territorial;
Broad-winged Hawk 11 migrants;
Red-tailed Hawk 2 or 3 appeared to be locals;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 migrants;
Am. Kestrel 2;
Merlin 1;
Tree Swallow 25+;
Barn Swallow 2;
Pileated Woodpecker 1;
Blue-headed Vireo 1;
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1;
Eastern Phoebe 6;
Yellow-rumped Warbler 12;
Palm Warbler 3;
Eastern Towhee 1;
Swamp Sparrow 3.
A total of 42 species were observed which is a fairly low number for the
5 hours spent birding.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/27/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 27, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 0 31 111
> Osprey 4 163 163
> Bald Eagle 0 10 13
> Northern Harrier 0 17 19
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 142 156
> Cooper's Hawk 0 10 20
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 10 36
> Broad-winged Hawk 45 747 747
> Red-tailed Hawk 0 38 124
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 3 43 50
> Merlin 0 3 5
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 15 28
>
> Total: 67 1230 1476
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 07:00:00
> Observation end time: 16:30:00
> Total observation time: 9 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Don Gardella, Donna
Schilling
>
> Visitors:
Mark and Sheila Lynch with class.
> Observations:
There are now a least a dozen pairs, 6 species, of resident raptors in the
area. They make it difficult to separate the locals from the migrants.
>
> Heard: Ruffed Grouse drumming and a Barred Owl calling. Flying over was 1
Great Egret and 20-30 Double-crested Cormorants.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/27/03 -- Worcester
- I had 1 Eastern Meadowlark at the RT. 56 overlook of the Worc. Airport, 1
Green Heron at Leesville Pond and a Pied billed Grebe at Salisbury pond.
(report from John Shea).
- 4/27/03 -- Hodges Village Dam, Oxford
-
Selective list from Hodges Vilage Dam this AM:
Wood Duck 4;
Ring-necked Duck 8;
Blue-headed Vireo 2;
Common Raven 1;
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 8;
Winter Wren 1;
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1;
Eastern Bluebird 1;
Hermit Thrush 1;
Brown Thrasher 2;
Warblers:
Yellow-rumped 25;
Black-throated Green 1 (male back on
territory);
Pine 6;
Palm 2;
Louisiana Waterthrush 1 (no Northern
yet);
Sparrows:
Eastern Towhee 8;
Field 4;
Chipping 6;
Swamp 5;
White-throated 2;
Song
Rusty Blackbird 6;
Purple Finch 2.
(report from Paul Meleski).
- 4/27/03 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
-
Highlights this morning while leading a walk for the
Massachusetts Audubon Society:
Great Blue Heron (6);
Turkey Vulture (4);
Mute Swan (2 - they were flying through on their way to Rice City Pond);
Wood Duck (2);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Killdeer (2);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Northern Flicker (3);
Tree Swallow (9);
Carolina Wren (2);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1);
Eastern Bluebird (4);
Brown Thrasher (4);
Cedar Waxwing (3);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2);
Pine Warbler (4);
Palm Warbler (1);
Eastern Towhee (1);
Chipping Sparrow (4);
Song Sparrow (7);
White-throated Sparrow (1);
Brown-headed Cowbird (6);
(report from John Liller).
- 4/27/03 -- Ware River Watershed
-
We had a fun MAS class trip birding along just a few of the A.C.E. roads
between Rutland SP and Barre Falls Dam this morning, just a small part of
the Ware River Watershed IBA. Weather initially was fairly cold and very
overcast. Birds included:
Double-crested Cormorant (flock of 13 migrating overhead);
Great Blue Heron (8 birds seen throughout, plus an additional 8 occupied
nests in rookery);
Canada Goose (28);
Wood Duck (6);
Mallard (6);
Turkey Vulture (12);
Osprey (1);
N. Harrier (1f);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (3);
N. Goshawk (1ad);
Broad-winged Hawk (3);
Red-tailed Hawk (5);
A. Kestrel (1);
Ruffed Grouse (4 drumming);
Sora (1);
Ring-billed Gull (166 circling, catching thermals and moving out);
E. Phoebe (10);
Tree Swallow (457: we had several large flocks down right along the Ware
River perching possibly because of yesterday's foul weather);
N. Rough-winged Swallow (7);
Bank Swallow (2);
Barn Swallow (6);
C. Raven (2+nest);
Red-breasted Nuthatch ( ONLY 1: this area is typically a good breeding spot
for this species, so this is VERY low);
Brown Creeper (18+ 1 nest found);
Winter Wren (2);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (11: all in areas where this species has bred in
years past);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (3);
Hermit Thrush (8: low);
Blue-headed Vireo (4);
WARBLERS were on the low side for this time of the year:
Yellow-rumped (40);
Black-throated Green (2);
Pine (26);
Palm (1);
Black and White (3);
Eastern Towhee (4);
Swamp Sparrow (13);
White-throated Sparrow (10: likely breeders);
Purple Finch (8);
Verts included beaver and many lodges, dams et, Spring Peeper, and signs of
coyote, deer et. Mayflower was the only bloom we found and the only leps
were a handful of Spring Azures.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 4/26/03 -- Gardner/Turners Falls
-
There was a Great Egret in Gardner this morning near the sewage
treatment plant; this is the first spring record I've had in the Gardner
area.
I stopped by Barton's cove mid-afternoon....missed the previously
reported Bonepart's Gulls but the C. Loons,Horned Grebe, DC Cormorants,
Eagles were present along with hundreds of Tree Swarrows (I est.
600-700) along with several N. Rough-winged, some Barn Swallows and at
least 1 Bank Swallow.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/26/03 -- Northboro
-
A Red-breasted Nuthatch was feeding at the suet feeder
in my backyard. It stayed for 15 minutes and went on its way. I noticed
it while watching a pair of Eastern Bluebirds consider nesting in a box
in the backyard. (report from Ann Boover).
- 4/25/03 -- Newton Hill, Worceser
- On a quick walk before work this morning I saw -3
Cowbirds, 4 Pine Warblers, 3 Palm Warblers, 1 Yellow rump Warbler, 1
Pheobe, 2 Flickers, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Brown Thrashers and 1 Hermit
Thrush. Great start to the day.
(report from John Shea).
- 4/25/03 -- Barre Dam & WMA, Barre
-
The following birds were seen:
1 goshawk, 2 kestrels (this seems to be a resident pair) 1 raven, 8 ruffed
grouse, 4 w.b. nuthatches, 6 b.creepers (these also seem to be preparing to
stay the summer as I've seen about the same quantity in this the hemlock/pine
habitat over a period of weeks), 5 r.c. kinglets, 2 winter wrens (chasing one
another through brush piles), 2 phoebes, 7 hermit thrushes, 3 rusty blackbirds,
1 purple finch, 2 blue-headed vireos, 2 yellow-rumped warblers, 4 pine warbles,
and one early prairie warble singing in a regenerating clear cut. The mammals
were represented by a snowshoe hare showing some white on ears and rear
quarters.
(report from Andrea Burke).
- 4/25/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 25, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 2 31 111
> Osprey 18 159 159
> Bald Eagle 0 10 13
> Northern Harrier 2 17 19
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 14 127 141
> Cooper's Hawk 0 10 20
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 10 36
> Broad-winged Hawk 391 702 702
> Red-tailed Hawk 0 38 124
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 2 40 47
> Merlin 0 3 5
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 15 28
>
> Total: 429 1163 1409
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 08:00:00
> Observation end time: 16:00:00
> Total observation time: 8 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling, Paul
Pinault
>
> Visitors:
> Shan Morrissey
>
> Observations:
The largest group of birds contained 60-65 hawks and the largest kettle
contained 32 hawks. Most of the birds passed before noon EST.
>
> 2 Common Loons were migrating.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/25/03 -- Blackstone Corridor, RI
- We birded a few places in the RI section of the Blackstone National Corridor
this morning.
PULASKI SP :standard series of stops, birds included:
Double-crested Cormorant (1imm);
Canada Goose (13);
Wood Duck (3);
Mallard (1);
Hooded Merganser (pair in past breeding location);
Turkey Vulture (1);
Osprey (1);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (2);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Red-shouldered Hawk (1);
Broad-winged Hawk (4);
Wild Turkey (2);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Pileated Woodpecker (1);
E. Phoebe (4);
Brown Creeper (7);
Winter Wren (1);
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (4);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (5);
Blue-headed Vireo (3);
Black-throated Green Warbler (1);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (16);
Pine Warbler (18);
Black and White Warbler (1);
Northern Waterthrush (1);
E. Towhee (13);
Purple Finch (3).
SEEKONK RIVER (from Bold/India Pts-Pawtucket):
Double-crested Cormorant (160);
Great Cormorant (3);
Mute Swan (154/1 nest: 135 of these were in one loose congregation at Bold
Pt);
Canada Goose (13);
A. Wigeon (1m);
Mallard (36);
A. Black Duck (29);
Greater Scaup (4);
Bufflehead (33);
Common Merganser (3);
Osprey (2 pair at 2 nests+1);
Red-tailed Hawk (4);
Broad-winged Hawk (1);
Greater Yellowlegs (2);
Bonaparte's Gull (1"almost" adS);
Belted Kingfisher (pair excavating a nest);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3);
Tree Swallow (17);
Bank Swallow (2);
WOONSOCKET RESERVOIR area:
Great Blue Heron (7 occ. nests);
Canada Goose (9);
Turkey Vulture (1);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
A. Kestrel (1m);
Wild Turkey (1);
Killdeer (2);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Tree Swallow (4+);
E. Bluebird (3m at nests);
Pine Warbler (2);
Field Sparrow (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 4/25/03 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights at noon included 1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (a),
1 EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, 3 Tree Swallows, and 2 Pine Warblers.
The BC Night-Heron has become a fairly regular spring visitor to
the park in recent years, and this sighting continues the pattern.
The Eastern Screech-Owl (gray phase) was
roosting in one of the two Wood Duck boxes that are mounted on a
single pole near the back side of the island. This time the owl was
in the box facing toward the island (it was in the other box on
4/18). Curiously, the presence of the owl seemed to have no effect
on Tree Swallows which were landing on top of the support pole for the
boxes, or on a Canada Goose on the nest just 10 ft away!
Also, yesterday (4/24) there was a female Belted Kingfisher.
(report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/24/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 24, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 2 29 109
> Osprey 14 141 141
> Bald Eagle 1 10 13
> Northern Harrier 1 15 17
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 113 127
> Cooper's Hawk 0 10 20
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 10 36
> Broad-winged Hawk 54 311 311
> Red-tailed Hawk 0 38 124
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 1 38 45
> Merlin 0 3 5
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 15 28
>
> Total: 75 734 980
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 08:00:00
> Observation end time: 14:00:00
> Total observation time: 6 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling
>
> Observations:
Birds were migrating low with little soaring using the wind to their
advantage. (report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/23/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 23, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 1 27 107
> Osprey 17 127 127
> Bald Eagle 0 9 12
> Northern Harrier 0 14 16
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 111 125
> Cooper's Hawk 0 10 20
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 10 36
> Broad-winged Hawk 116 257 257
> Red-tailed Hawk 0 38 124
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 2 37 44
> Merlin 0 3 5
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 15 28
>
> Total: 143 659 905
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 08:30:00
> Observation end time: 15:00:00
> Total observation time: 6.5 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling
> Observations:
What looked like a day to find something else to do turned out to be our
highest quantity day of the year so far. Go figure. The hawks did very
little soaring. They used the wind to their advantage.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/23/03 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester
- There is a Canadian Goose on a nest easily seen from behind
the basketball court in the Cattails. About 30 feet away going towards
Notre Dame Cemetery is a Mute Swan on a nest easily seen from the
cemetery. I'm not so sure if they each know they are so close to each
other. (report from Brian Mulhearn)
- 4/23/03 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Notable at noon were 2 Bufflehead (m&f), 1 Hooded Merganser (f),
and 3 Pine Warblers. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/22/03 -- Cleghorn, Fitchburg
- A strange day for birds in Cleghorn! We had a Wild Turkey
stroll through our very urban backyard within a few yards of the houses.
Additionally two Eastern Towhees were foraging under the feeders along
with several White Throated Sparrows and Dark Eyed Juncos who have been
steady visitors. Jean-Pierre got off a few
digital snapshots
in the rain
and fog (sorry for the fence) but the turkey walked between the houses.
A Northern Flicker has also been calling all weekend long, drilling at
some old trees along the street.
(report from Cheryl and Jean-Pierre Boissy).
- 4/21/03 -- Worcester
-
Birding Newton Hill this morning I saw -2 Downy Woodpeckers, 4 Pine
Warblers, 7 Yellow -rumped Warblers ,3 Palm Warblers, 4 Ruby -crowned
Kinglets ,3 Brown headed Cowbirds and 3 Flickers.
At Institute Park I had 2 Pine Warblers ,1 Killdeer and 2 Flickers.
The pond at Green Hill had -2 Female Hooded Merganser and 1 male Wood Duck.
At Flint Pond of S.Quinsig there were 10 Wood Ducks .
(report from John Shea).
- 4/21/03 -- Danforth Brook, Hardwick
-
Seen at a large beaver pond on Danforth Brook in
Hardwick (south side of Barre Road) was a Great Blue
Heron, a Great Egret, a LITTLE BLUE HERON, 15 Wood
Ducks, 2 pair of Green-winged Teal, 4 Ring-necked
Ducks, 9 Common Mergansers, 9 Hooded Mergansers, 2
Belted Kingfishers, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 8
Yellow-rumped Warblers and 12 Palm Warblers. (report
from Chris Buelow)
- 4/21/03 -- Raymond Rd., Gardner
-
Hilite from a few quick stops along Raymond Road in gardner this
morning:
Red-Breasted Nuthatch 2;
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet 1;
Pine Warbler 1;
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1;
Palm Warbler 1;
Field Sparrow 1;
Chipping Sparrow 1;
Purple Finch 3;
One Blue Jay doing a very good job of impersonating a Broad-winged
Hawk's call.
Also friday (4/18) morning I heard my first Evening Grosbeak of the year
at High Ridge WMA.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/21/03 --off Salisbury St., Worcester
-
I had my first Towhee of the year, a male, foraging in my backyard this
morning. (report from Howard Shainheit).
- 4/20/03 -- Westboro Wildlife Management area, Westboro
-
I took an after Easter dinner walk around the Westboro WMA in early
evening. Here's the highlites:
Great blue heron;
Wood Duck;
Mallard;
American Kestral-pair;
Killdeer;
Belted Kingfisher-at the small pond near the airstrip;
Northern Flicker;
Savannah Sparrow- 3.
I noted a tree freshly felled by a beaver along the Little Chauncey Pond
access road. I also met a Jeep containing 6 teenagers on the property and
observed that they 4-wheeled through the woods and up an embankment to get
around the gate and off the property.
(report from Laura Lane).
- 4/20/03 -- Cook Pond/Airport, Worcester
-
I stopped at Cook Pond (off Olean St.) this evening and saw 4 Wood Ducks and 1 C.
Merganser (f). Also, at the Worcester Airport I heard at least 2 Woodcock ,
saw 1 Meadowlark and 2 killdeer.
(report from John Shea).
- 4/20/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 20, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 3 26 106
> Osprey 11 105 105
> Bald Eagle 2 9 12
> Northern Harrier 1 13 15
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 13 103 117
> Cooper's Hawk 1 9 19
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 9 35
> Broad-winged Hawk 58 134 134
> Red-tailed Hawk 7 38 124
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 11 33 40
> Merlin 0 3 5
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 2 15 28
>
> Total: 109 498 744
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 08:00:00
> Observation end time: 15:30:00
> Total observation time: 7.5 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling, Tom
Carrolan
>
> Visitors:
> Don Gardella
> Observations:
> A pair of adult Bald Eagles passed close to the site.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/20/03 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
-
We had a MAS class trip to Bolton Flats this morning. The water level has
dropped considerably and navigation in many areas can be done with just some
regular boots. Highlights included:
Double-crested Cormorant (15);
Great Blue Heron (4);
Canada Goose (21);
Wood Duck (60);
Green-winged Teal (201);
A. Black Duck (8);
Mallard (57);
Blue-winged Teal (6);
N. Shoveler (1m);
A. Wigeon (9);
Greater Scaup (1f);
Turkey Vulture (3);
Red-tailed Hawk (6);
Virginia Rail (1);
Killdeer (11);
Wilson's Snipe (64);
Belted Kingfisher (5);
N. Flicker (18);
E. Phoebe (5);
Tree Swallow (only 8);
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1);
Pine Warbler (1);
N. Cardinal (14);
Eastern Towhee (3);
Savannah Sparow (2);
Song Sparrow (82);
Swamp Sparrow (14);
The highlight of a quick trip to OXBOW NWR, Harvard was flushing an American
Woodcock for some good views.
Then we did a short hawkwatch at the FRUITLANDS and had:
Double-crested Cormorant (2 migrating);
Turkey Vulture (1);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (3);
Red-tailed Hawk (16: including a migrating kettle of 4 and another of 5).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 4/20/03 -- Edmund Hill Woods parking lot, Northboro
-
From 6:10-6:35 p.m., I observed a Pileated Woodpecker working the dead branch
of the thickest trunked oak tree just down the hill from the bluish/grey
house on the left of the parking lot. I first heard the bird call, then
I saw it as it flew from tree to tree searching for food. It finally
settled in the large oak, ripped up pieces of dead wood and began
feeding. It was still feeding on the branch when I drove away.
(report from Ann Boover).
- 4/19/03 -- Quabbin Gate 40, Petersham
- The most interesting
sightings were: 1 American Bittern, 25 green-winged teal, 3 common
mergansers, 1 yellow-bellied sapsucker, 1 pileated woodpecker, 1
red-bellied woodpecker, 1 red-breasted nuthatch, 3 ruby-crowned kinglets,
1 brown creeper, 4 yellow-rumped warblers, 10 pine warblers, 4 chipping
sparrows, 4 white-throated sparrows, and 6 dark-eyed juncos. The mud
flats at Graves Landing are under several feet of water now.
(report from R. Spedding).
- 4/19/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 19, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 3 23 103
> Osprey 9 94 94
> Bald Eagle 1 7 10
> Northern Harrier 1 12 14
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 14 90 104
> Cooper's Hawk 3 8 18
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 1 9 35
> Broad-winged Hawk 16 76 76
> Red-tailed Hawk 0 31 117
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 4 22 29
> Merlin 0 3 5
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 3 13 26
>
> Total: 55 389 635
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 09:00:00
> Observation end time: 15:30:00
> Total observation time: 6.5 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Donna Schilling
>
> Observers: David Grant, Donna Schilling
>
> Visitors:
Don Gardella, Jim Samdahl and Jesse Samdahl.
> Observations:
>
>
> 1 Cabbage White Butterfly
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/19/03 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
-
Highlights this morning:
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Hairy Woodpecker (2);
Northern Flicker (4);
Eastern Phoebe (2);
Tree Swallow (4);
CAROLINA WREN (1 - they have not all left the area);
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (2);
Eastern Bluebird (3);
HERMIT THRUSH (2);
PALM WARBLER (2);
Field Sparrow (2);
Song Sparrow (13);
Swamp Sparrow (2);
White-throated Sparrow (2);
(report from John Liller).
- 4/19/03 -- Hodges Village Dam, Oxford
-
Highlights on a quick walk thru hodges this AM:
Wood Duck 12;
Ring-necked Duck 3;
Ruffed Grouse 1;
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3;
Pine Warbler 4;
Palm Warbler 8;
Swamp Sparrow 2;
Eastern Towhee 2.
Also noticed a roosting group of appox. 150 Tree Swallow perched on the ends
of one of the swamp bushes in a pretty tight bunch. I know people are
putting colored eggs on the end of their trees for Easter, but live
birds?????? (report from Paul Meleski).
- 4/19/03 -- Daniel's Farm/West Hill Dam, Blackstone
-
The MAS Class started birding at Daniel's Farm in Blackstone, intending to
do a hawkatch. The weather was really not good: cold, damp, and completely
overcast, and we had only a few birds and it was not good for hawkwatching.
Highlights:
Great Blue Heron (2 overhead: there has to be a rookery nearby);
Canada Goose (2);
Wood Duck (1 overhead);
Wild Turkey (5, including 2 displaying toms);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2);
N. Flicker (5);
E. Phoebe (pair);
Common Raven (pair attending nest);
E. Bluebird (pair);
Fox Sparrow (1);
We then headed over to West Hill Dam, Uxbridge at which point it promptly
cleared. So we hiked around on the trails. Nota bene: the dam is still
closed to foot traffic and the gates are closed at the entrance of the
southern road to the dam and the furthest gate out from the property is
closed at the northern end, so you have to hike a bit to gain access. Some
of this is due to ongoing construction and some of this is post 9/11
concerns. The dam may well not be open for traffic again. Highlights:
Great Blue Heron (2);
Canada Goose (5);
Wood Duck (6);
Mallard (1);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (2 migrating);
Broad-winged Hawk (3 migrating);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
E. Phoebe (3);
Tree Swallow (3);
N. Rough-winged Swallow (2);
Barn Swallow (1 migrant);
Brown Creeper (1 singing);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1);
Pine Warbler (8);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 4/18/03 -- Lake Quabog, Brookfield
-
A quick stop at Lake Quabog at 5PM this afternoon revealed 1 Bald Eagle
sitting in the nest and another fishing close by.
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/18/03 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- At noon highlights were 1 Hooded Merganser, 1 Yellow-rumped
Warbler, 2 Pine Warblers, and (most amazingly) 1
EASTERN SCREECH-OWL (gray phase) inside the Wood Duck box
peering out! This is a "park bird" for me, and the first time
I've seen an owl in a Wood Duck box. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/18/03 -- Blackstone Corridor RI
-
We surveyed a few places in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor this
morning. Overall, it cold and cloudy.
NORTHEAST CUMBERLAND:
Most of the waterfowl has moved on. Birds seen included:
Great Cormorant (2: Diamond Hill Res);
Mute Swan (pair);
Canada Goose (27);
Wood Duck (7);
Mallard (2);
A. Black Duck (4);
Ring-necked Duck (4);
Common Merganser (7);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
A. Kestrel (pair in possible breeding location);
Wild Turkey (4);
E. Phoebe (4);
Tree Swallow (2);
Carolina Wren (10);
Pine Warbler (8);
Louisiana Waterthrush (1);
E. Meadowlark (3);
SEEKONK RIVER (from India/Bold Point Parks-Pawtucket). Again, most of the
waterfowl and even most of the gulls have moved on.
Double-crested Cormorant (229);
Great Cormorant (5);
Great Egret (3);
Mute Swan (107+ 1nest);
Canada Goose (16);
Brant (12);
A. Wigeon (1m);
Gadwall (2);
Mallard (24);
A. Black Duck (31);
Greater Scaup (2);
Lesser Scaup (5);
Bufflehead (28);
Red-breasted Merganser (18);
Common Merganser (5);
Osprey (pair at nest+2);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
E. Screech Owl (1 red ph);
OLNEY POND, LINCOLN PARK:
Double-crested Cormorant (3);
Great Cormorant (1);
Mute Swan (2);
Canada Goose (13);
Mallard (7);
Turkey Vulture (1);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (4);
Tree Swallow (43);
N. Rough-winged Swallow (7);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (11);
Palm Warbler (2);
Pine Warbler (2);
WOONSOCKET RESERVOIR:
Great Blue Heron (7 occ. nests);
Canada Goose (3);
Mallard (1);
Bufflehead (5);
E. Phoebe (1);
E. Bluebird (1m);
Pine Warbler (2)
;
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 4/17/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 17, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 0 20 100
> Osprey 5 85 85
> Bald Eagle 1 6 9
> Northern Harrier 1 11 13
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 76 90
> Cooper's Hawk 0 5 15
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 1 8 34
> Broad-winged Hawk 3 60 60
> Red-tailed Hawk 3 31 117
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 3 18 25
> Merlin 0 3 5
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 10 23
>
> Total: 22 334 580
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 07:30:00
> Observation end time: 13:00:00
> Total observation time: 5.5 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant
>
> Visitors:
George Gove and Judy Gordon
>
>
> Observations:
> Hawks were low more intent on hunting than on migrating.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/17/03 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton
- A Ruffed Grouse drummed several times near the
beaver swamp.(report from Brian Mulhearn)
- 4/17/03 -- off Salisbury St., Worcester
-
At 7:20 this morning I had my first Worcester warbler of the year in my
yard, a tail-bobbing Palm Warbler. Can a real Spring be far behind?
(report from Howard Shainheit).
- 4/16/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
A hot, late morning visit to Barre Dam resulted in few birds outside of
the omnipresent cowbirds and song sparrows. Of the few others, many of them
clustered in the hemlock/pine stands near running water: 6 brown creepers, all
singing; five w.b. nuthatches; 3 phoebes; and one, silent solitary vireo. Birds
at miscellaneous locations included one hairy woodpecker, one yellow-rumped
warbler, one swamp sparrow, three flickers, one chipping sparrow, and one
drumming ruffed grouse.
(report from Andrea Burke).
- 4/16/03 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
-
Hilites from this evening on the flats:
Pied-billed Grebe 1;
Green-winged Teal ~75;
Am. Widgeon 9;
Wood Duck 20+;
Greater Scaup 1 female;
Ring-necked Duck ~30;
Ring-billed Gull ~200;
Northern harrier 1 female;
Am. Kestrel 1;
Tree Swallow ~200;
Barn Swallow 1;
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1.
Water levels have dropped since monday, and the way out to the flats is
somewhat passable with calf-high boots (though one of mine was about 1/8"
too short). Swallow numbers were more typical for mid-april: Monday (4/14)
night I saw zero(perhaps they were finishing up the taxes)..
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/16/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 16, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 4 20 100
> Osprey 21 80 80
> Bald Eagle 1 5 8
> Northern Harrier 1 10 12
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 29 71 85
> Cooper's Hawk 0 5 15
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 7 33
> Broad-winged Hawk 52 57 57
> Red-tailed Hawk 5 28 114
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 1 1
> American Kestrel 7 15 22
> Merlin 0 3 5
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 2 10 23
>
> Total: 122 312 558
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 07:45:00
> Observation end time: 15:00:00
> Total observation time: 7.25 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, Donna Schilling
>> Observations:
Birds were very high and moving as fast as a shooting star before the wind
shift. After the wind shift the birds were observed struggling against the
wind at tree top level.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/15/03 -- off Salisbury St., Worcester
-
I had my first two Chipping Sparrows of the year in my yard today along
with a very brightly plummaged White-throated Sparrow and four Flickers,
one female and three males, two of which were ready to do battle for their
lady love. (report from Howard Shainheit ).
- 4/15/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 15, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 1 16 96
> Osprey 22 59 59
> Bald Eagle 0 4 7
> Northern Harrier 3 9 11
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 26 42 56
> Cooper's Hawk 3 5 15
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 7 33
> Broad-winged Hawk 5 5 5
> Red-tailed Hawk 2 23 109
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 1 1 1
> American Kestrel 5 8 15
> Merlin 2 3 5
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 8 21
>
> Total: 70 190 436
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 08:45:00
> Observation end time: 15:00:00
> Total observation time: 6.25 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling,
Richard Spedding
>> Observations:
The first Golden Eagle of the year passed just east of the site. The first
Broad-winged Hawk of the year arrived at 12:15 EST. It showed off by
soaring overhead. The resident Red-shouldered Hawks and Goshawks also put
on a show.
>
> 35-40 Double-crested Cormorants were migrating and the first Savannah
Sparrow arrived.
Elsewhere in the County I saw 1 Horned Grebe at Wachusett
Reservoir, singing Pine Warbler at Swedish Cemetery in Worcester and an
American Bittern in a beaver swamp in Leicester.
At the feeder this morning there were 3 Chipping Sparrows.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/15/03 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
-
I took a very late morning walk at loop 2 today. Highlights were a
Sharpie flying across the trail not twenty feet in front of me; 1 Wild
Turkey; 2 Flickers; 1 Phoebe; 3 Field and 7 Song Sparrows; only 1 Cowbird;
and 4 Tree Swallows and a male and female Bluebird, all six in the field
along the Stretch. The Bluebirds were clearly setting up housekeeping in
box #M4, the rightmost box. AND PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ENTIRE AREA IS NOW
WALKABLE: there is a fairly smooth path through the phragmites with a
bridge at the one wet spot; also, planks have been laid across the stream
so that one can do the entire 2-loop with just hiking boots.
(report from Howard Shainheit).
- 4/15/03 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
-
A morning trip to Bolton Flats in Bolton was noteworthy for it's lack of large
flocks of waterfowl. Savannah sparrows, and swamp sparrows have returned. A
northern shrike moved up and down the brush at waters edge. I suspect this may
be the same bird I saw on 4/10. It had the look of a bird with first adult
plumage - traces of brown on chest and belly, and the mask was not strongly
contrasted.
A late morning trip to Oxbow in Harvard also turned up swamp sparrows - this
time in full voice and defending territory. A winter wren also popped out from
beneath the undergrowth. It called only briefly.
The deer ticks are out at both locations, and latching on to everything.
Beware.
(report from Andrea Burke).
- 4/15/03 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- The duck show seems to be over at Salisbury Pond, with only 2 Hooded
Mergansers today and 2 Ring-necked Ducks yesterday. A DC Cormorant has
taken up its usual position on the stick extending out into the water
near the fire station, however, and I was treated today at noon with
a nicely plumaged singing Pine Warbler, as well as a brown bat
flying over the pond, getting a drink on the wing.
(report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/14/03 -- Suasco Reservoir, Westboro
-
On Sat. 4/12 I had a Great Egret at Suasco Reservoir
in Westboro with the Great Blue Herons, and today
at about noon I had another at the marsh in
Boylston at the intersection of Rt70 and Rt140.
(report from Nickilas Paulson).
- 4/14/03 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
-
I "slogged" around Bolton Flats for a few hours this
evening:
Great Blue heron 2;
Canada Goose 125;
Black Duck 20+;
Mallard plenty;
Green-winged Teal 330;
Blue-winged Teal 1 drake;
Am. Widgeon 8;
Wood Duck 20+;
Ring-necked Duck 1;
Northern Harrier 1 female;
Greater Yellowlegs 1;
Pectoral Sandpiper 2;
Wilson's Snipe 40-50;
Ring-billed Gull ~400;
Herring Gull ~10;
Great Black-backed Gull 2;
Iceland Gull 1 imm. 2nd yr
(type...very pale).
As many GW teal as I've seen in central mass. before, there were 80 on
the south side of Rte117, I had noticed from a long distance a whole lot
of small waterfowl briefly rise up and drop back down across the flats
on the north side of rte117. So I schelped across the muddy flats to
check it after looking over the south side. When i got out there easily
another 250 GW Teal , Mallards and Black Ducks exploded into flight.
While trudging back I flushed many Snipe.
I was not able to check out the main body of water hidden by the
overgrowth, water is still a bit deep.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/14/03 -- Barre Falls, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 14, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 0 15 95
> Osprey 6 37 37
> Bald Eagle 0 4 7
> Northern Harrier 1 6 8
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 16 30
> Cooper's Hawk 1 2 12
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 1 7 33
> Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
> Red-tailed Hawk 2 21 107
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 0 0
> American Kestrel 1 3 10
> Merlin 0 1 3
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 5 8 21
>
> Total: 18 120 366
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 09:00:00
> Observation end time: 14:00:00
> Total observation time: 5 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling
>
Observations:
40-45 Double-crested Cormorants and 3 Great Blue Herons were migrating.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/14/03 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton
- The highlight was my first Hermit Thrush this spring.(report
from Brian Mulhearn)
- 4/13/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 8 15 95
> Osprey 14 31 31
> Bald Eagle 1 4 7
> Northern Harrier 1 5 7
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 15 29
> Cooper's Hawk 0 1 11
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 4 6 32
> Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
> Red-tailed Hawk 10 19 105
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 0 0
> American Kestrel 1 2 9
> Merlin 0 1 3
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 1 3 16
>
> Total: 49 102 348
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 09:00:00
> Observation end time: 15:00:00
> Total observation time: 6 hours
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp, Donna Schilling
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling
> James Toledano
> Observations:
> Birds in the morning were seen against the clouds. Birds in the afternoon
were high in the blue and mostly unseen.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/13/03 -- Little Chauncy Pond, Northboro
-
In the evening, the waterfowl had changed in number and variety from what we had tallied in
the morning. At 7PM we saw:
Canada Goose (15);
Wood Duck (4);
Green-winged Teal (2);
Gadwall (1m+2f);
A. Wigeon (2);
Ring-necked Duck (54);
Buffelhead (8);
C. Goldeneye (6);
Common Merganser (6).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 4/13/03 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
- Highlights this morning:
Wild Turkey (5);
Northern Flicker (2);
Eastern Phoebe (3);
FISH CROW (1 - this is a rare visitor to the Sanctuary in the spring);
Field Sparrow (2);
Song Sparrow (10);
Swamp Sparrow (1);
Dark-eyed Junco (4);
Brown-headed Cowbird (7);
And one impressive beaver lodge. In fact, if anyone is planning to bird
the Brookside Trail (off of Dunkirk Ave.), make sure to wear waterproof
boots (up to your calves) and also realize that you will be walking over
some fairly rough ground formed by cut phragmites. (To do our Route 2
Loop, I had to bushwack to find a crossing of the brook that wasn't too
deep.) (report from John Liller).
- 4/13/03 -- ponds, Westboro/Northboro
-
SuAsCo (from the Assabet Conservation property). We led a trip for some of
the Westboro Land Trust folks and had:
Great Blue Heron (only 4 active nests and 7 birds seen. The standing dead
trees used for nesting have dramatically decresed in number);
Mute Swan (2 nesting pairs);
Wood Duck (12);
Ring-necked Duck (111);
Common Goldeneye (10);
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (1 1stW m);
Bufflehead (2);
Lesser Scaup (pair);
Common Merganser (10);
OSPREY (pair at nest w/another bombing them);
Red-tailed Hawk (2);
B. Kingfisher (1);
E. Phoebe (2);
Tree Swallow (13);
Fox Sparrow (2);
NOTA BENE: we searched for the Great Horned Owl. It had been seen last
weekend well. We watched and watched on the nest it was in and saw nothing.
This means (1) the owl was hunkered down becasue of the cold and wind,
though we were in a great area to observe it. (2) the owls were again
shooed off the nest just after the Osprey arrive.
CHAUNCY POND, WESTBORO:
few ducks and a boat out on the water:
Canada Goose (2);
Buffelhead (4);
A. Kestrel (1m);
Killdeer (4: hospital grounds);
Tree Swallow (1);
LITTLE CHAUNCY POND, NORTHBORO:
Canada Goose (2);
Mallard (2);
A. Black Duck (2);
Ring-necked Duck (31);
Lesser Scaup (8);
Bufflehead (9);
Turkey Vulture (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
E. Phoebe (2);
Fox Sparrow (1);
BARTLETT POND, NORTHBORO:
Mute Swan (pair constructing nest);
Canada Goose (1);
Mallard (4);
Ring-necked Duck (4);
HOCOMONCO POND, WESTBORO:
Mute Swan (pair w/nest);
Mallard (2);
Ring-necked Duck (24);
SUMMET BROOK, GRAFTON: (flows into Big Bummet)
Mute Swan (1);
Canada Goose (2);
A. Wigeon (2);
Mallard (10);
A. Black Duck (3);
Ring-necked Duck (2);
Hooded Merganser (4);
Common Merganser (13);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 4/12/03 -- Boton Flats/ Bolton
-
We birded Bolton Flats from the periphery roads as wedid not bring waders.
Large numbers of Ring-billed Gulls and icterids were migrating through.
Canada Goose (187);
Wood Duck (33);
Green-winged Teal (2);
A. Wigeon (2);
Mallard (72);
A. Black Duck (78);
N. Shoveler (1m);
Greater Scaup (1f);
Red-tailed Hawk (5);
A. Kestrel (1m);
Killdeer (39);
Ring-billed Gull (270+);
Clay-colored Sparrow (1 singing);
Red-winged Blackbird (2990+);
C. Grackle (1700+).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 4/12/03 -- Gardner, Westminster, Templeton
-
Hilites from a total of 51 species today from multiple spots in Gardner,
Westminster and Templeton:
Pied-billed grebe 1;
Great Blue Heron 5;
Wood Duck ~25;
Green-winged Teal 2;
Bufflehead 2;
Common Goldeneye 11;
Common Merganser 12;
Hooded Merganser 6;
Osprey 1;
Wild Turkey 84;
Northern Flicker 7;
Eastern Phoebe 3;
Tree Swallow 1 Only!;
Yellow-rumper Warbler 1;
Am. Tree Sparrow 15;
Fox Sparrow 11 (from 4 locales);
Song Sparrow 20+;
Swamp Sparrow 1;
White-throated Sparrow 6;
Junco 40+;
Purple Finch 4.
Still a good deal of ice cover on some ponds and lakes, but bodies of
water with faster flowing inlet where at least partially. It was "neat"
to hear all the species of sparrow today singing. One pair of
Black-capped Chickadees was excavating a nest hole.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/12/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 12, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 4 7 87
> Osprey 16 17 17
> Bald Eagle 0 3 6
> Northern Harrier 2 4 6
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 6 20
> Cooper's Hawk 1 1 11
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 2 2 28
> Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
> Red-tailed Hawk 4 9 95
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 0 0
> American Kestrel 1 1 8
> Merlin 1 1 3
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 2 2 15
>
> Total: 38 53 299
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 12:30:00
> Observation end time: 16:15:00
> Total observation time: 3.75 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/10/03 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
-
Bolton Flats birds (north and south of Rte. 117) the afternoon and evening of
4/10 included: one red-tailed hawk; one female kestrel; two harriers, male and
female; two rough-legged hawks(one dark phase);too many mallards, ring-necked
ducks, wood ducks, green-winged teal, and Canada geese to count; heard three
Virginia rails; one lesser yellowlegs overhead; several killdeer; several
phoebes, one kingfisher; one male bluebird; and a spring-time treat of a
northern shrike working one of the hedgerows.
(report from Andrea Burke).
- 4/10/03 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
-
I went to Wachusett Reservoir this evening. While passing South Bay I
noticed that there was still some ice on it and on the ice there were
hundreds of gulls. Amongst the gulls there were 2 second year Iceland Gulls
and 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/10/03 -- ponds, Westboro/Northboro
-
I checked out the ponds today. It sure was nice to see the sun again!
At Bartlett Pond I saw: Mute Swan 4, Canada Goose 1, Mallard 1,
Ring-necked Duck 3.
At Little Chauncey Pond I saw: Ring-necked Duck 24, Bufflehead 3, Common
Merganser 4.
At Chauncey I counted: Common Merganser 220, Bufflehead 4.
In the fields I also saw the pair of American Kestral hanging out on the
poles and hunting. Also, there was an adult male Northern Harrier hunting
in the fields.
(report from Laura Lane).
- 4/10/03 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
-
The water level at Muddy Pond is the highest in recent memory.
The ditches that drain the eastern end end of the area are overflowing
and have overrun the beaver dams. Today there were ~ 250 Ring-necked
Ducks on the pond together with 1 F Common Goldeneye, 2 Green-winged
Teal, 2 Hooded Mergansers, 8 Common Mergansers and 24 Mallards. I only
saw one Tree Swallow. A Cooper's Hawk was sitting in the big dead tree in
the middle of the swamp when I arrived. I parked my car at the Eastern
Gate across from the ball field and when I returned I found a
cowbird
perched on one of the outside mirrors of my car. She was not
happy. If memory serves me correctly, Mark Lynch reported a similar
occurrence a year or two back.
(report from Bob Ricci).
- 4/10/03 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
-
Birds seen at Bolton Flats this morning that were not on Tom's report of
yesterday were: 6 Pintail, 5 American Wigeon, 1 drake Northern Shoveler, 3
Pectoral Sandpipers, a male and female Northern Harrier and 1 Osprey.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/10/03 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Birds at noon included 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 4 Ring-necked Ducks,
1 Bufflehead (f), 4 Hooded Mergansers, and 3 Common Mergansers.
(report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/9/03 -- Bolton Flats/ Groton
-
Hilites from this evening in Groton:
Wilson's Snipe 24 minimum (there were 30 yesterday);
Purple Finch 1;
From Bolton Flats:
Canada Goose 200+;
Mallard 100+;
Black Duck ~40;
Green-winged Teal 10+;
Wood Duck ~50;
Ringed-necked Duck 30+;
Hooded Merganser 4;
Ring-billed Gull ~200;
Killdeer 10+;
Greater Yellowlegs 1;
Wilson's Snipe 64 (minimum);
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 imm.;
Red-tailed Hawk 2 (1 Ad./1 Imm.);
Great-horned Owl 1;
Rusty Blackbird 4;
Some "winnowing" from the snipe after dark....one of the truely great
natural sounds!
Conditions are not too bad(high water)....but calf high boots are nice
to have, hipboots would better. It was tough to get a good view of the
main body of water...the waterfowl numbers are probably just a fraction
of what's out there.
I heard some spring peepers calling....but they sounded a bit sluggish,
last year they were sounding off in late february.
Also this morning while "gassing up" in Ashby I heard a Red-breated
Nuthatch...a species thats been in short supply this winter.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/8/03 -- Lake Louisa, Milford
-
Bev and I were at Lake Louisa in Milford today and were able to
photograph the
Black-headed Gull
which is now well into it's summer
plumage.
(report from Bob and Bev Ricci).
- 4/8/03 -- off of Salisbury St., Worcester
-
I have had two Fox Sparrows under my feeders for most of the day. They
are ignoring whatever seed has been spilled by other birds. Instead, they
"jump" forward at the snow/dirt line and then dig in and throw up snow
with both feet. Kaufmann describes this as typical. Are they getting any
food from all of this? Not much that I can see. (report from Howard Shainheit).
- 4/8/03 -- Fitchburg
- An impressive and solitary Fox Sparrow seen beneath
the feeders on Monday and again today in our backyard in Fitchburg,.
Apparently, he is undaunted by the three inches of snow which fell
overnight as he was observed scratching in the snow for fallen seeds,
etc. (report from Cheryl and Jean-Pierre Boissy).
- 4/8/03 -- Worcester
-
The Turkey returned to the yard this morning and cleared the snow from the
seeds before I had a chance to do so. She then walked to the cellar window
sill where I had just put out more seed and proceeded to eat first the
sunflower seeds then everything else. She was still stuffing herself when I
sent this e-mail.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/7/03 -- Miller's Beach, Barre
-
Among the common three gull species roosting on the
ice at Miller's Beach (pond on Ware River near Barre
landfill) at 3:30 was a Lesser Black-backed Gull in
adult breeding plumage. (report from Chris Buelow)
- 4/7/03 -- Winimusset WMA, New Braintree
-
Highlights from an evening hour at the Hardwick Road
entrance include 10 Great Blue Herons, 16 Green-winged
Teal, 1 American Widgeon, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 7
Common Mergansers, 12 Hooded Mergansers, 1 Wilson's
Snipe, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 9 Northern Flickers, 2
Eastern Meadowlarks and 25+ Rusty Blackbirds. (report
from Chris Buelow)
- 4/7/03 -- ponds, Northboro/Westboro
- I did a survey of Bartlett, Little Chauncey and Chauncey Ponds and the
area between this afternoon. It was raw and 36 degrees-no snow yet.
Bartlett Pond: Canada Goose 1, Mute swan 4, Wood Duck 1 male, Mallard 2
Little Chauncey Pond: Canada Goose 2, Wood Duck 6, Mallard 1, Ring-necked
Duck 35,
Bufflehead 8, Great Black-backed Gull 2, Belted Kingfisher 1, American crow 45
Chauncey Pond: Canada Goose 1, Bufflehead 4, Common Merganser 232
Also seen in the Wildlife Management area between the Ponds:
Mallard 2, Red-tailed Hawk 1, American Kestral 1, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay
18, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Savannah Sparrow 2, Song
sparrow 5, No. Cardinal 4,
Red winged Blackbird large flock-over 100, Common Grackle many
(report from Laura Lane).
- 4/7/03 -- off Salisbury St, Worcester
-
I had three female Cowbirds at my feeder this morning. Yuck!
(report from Howard Shainheit).
- 4/7/03 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton/Holden
- All the trees on the upper elevations are covered with a
thick layer of ice. A Raven called from the nest. Another Raven answered
and briefly landed at the nest, then flew off. At the lookout, 2 GB
Herons rose from Kettlebrook Reservoir#4 and flew off. There were 3 local
Turkey Vultures. 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers,(White Trail) and 2 Phoebes hunting along a stream on this
cold day. We followed Moose tracks from the Blue Trail, thru a section of
woods to a stream which the tracks followed towards Holden Reservoirs, so
if you are on Reservoir St. keep your eyes open! Also, when I arrived
home there were 25+ Cedar Waxwings raiding the berries in the hedges in
the yard. A Cooper's Hawk landed in a nearby tree, and they all left in a
hurry! (report from Brian Mulhearn)
- 4/7/03 -- Worcester
-
I recorded a backyard life bird this morning; a female Wild Turkey. I was
able to get within 4 inches of the bird as she ate seeds that were placed on
the sill of a cellar window. I could tell from the actions of the local
squirrels that some of them had never seen a turkey. They approached her
very cautiously and/or kept their distance.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/6/03 -- Blackstone National Corridor waterbird survey: summary
-
On Sunday, April 6, 17 people in 8 teams from Broad Meadow Brook MAS in
Worcester fanned out across the Blackstone National Corridor between
Worcester and Providence to count "water birds" on river, pond, lake and
reservoir. It was a very windy and cold day, but at least it was not raining. This
spring's count had been delayed a few weeks becasue of foul weather and we
may have missed some of the merg migration.
This is part of a
series of counts to be conducted in the Corridor for the next several years.
Complete report here
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/6/03 -- Blackstone Corridor Survey
-
Kim Bacchiocchi and I covered the towns of Burrillville, Glocester, and
North Smithfield in Rhode Island.
Complete results here
(report from John Liller).
- 4/6/03 -- Worcester
-
John Shea and I covered the Worcester Ponds for an IBA survey today. Birds were thin. Highlights were an Osprey fishing off of Lake
Shore Park at Lake Quinsigamond and good numbers of birds at Flint Pond
in the Irish Dam area. The light was tough, and we could not count all of
the birds, but got, at the least, 78 Ring-necked Ducks, 15 Common Mergs,
and 7 Common Goldeneye. The male Green-winged Teal continues in the water
behind N. Dame Cemetary. Pied-billed Grebes showed at Salisbury Pond,
Green Hill Pond, and Flint Pond. Hooded and Common Mergs are scattered
about, as are Ring-necked Ducks. Salisbury Pond continues to hold its
birds with the Pied-billed Grebe, a female Bufflehead, 7 Ring-necked
Ducks, 20 Hooded Mergs, and1 lone Common Merg. A Red-tail sat in a tree
and watched us count. Oh, yes, I had two Purple Finches at my feeder this
morning. (report from Howard Shainheit).
- 4/6/03 -- Bolton Flats/Delaney, Bolton/Harvard
- Highlights of a Forbush Bird Club trip on a cold and blustery
April morning included (unofficial totals):
2 drake Northern Shovelers, 5+ Am. Wigeon,
30+ Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Common Goldeneye, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk,
1 Am. Kestrel hovering over a field, 1 Great Horned Owl on the
nest at Delaney in the Great-blue Heron rookery, 1 Northern Flicker,
1 Eastern Bluebird, and 2 Am Tree Sparrows.
Full report here
Also, after returning home I had a Fox Sparrow under our feeder in
West Boylston. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/3/03 -- Asnebumskit Hill/Paxton
- At the fogged in summit. 1 Raven was heard. At the beaver
pond, there was 1 GB Heron, 1 Wood Duck which flew out of a tree, a pair
of Mallards, 25 Juncos,2 Phoebes, and a Gold-crowned Kinglet.
Also at Notre Dame cemetery, 5 Green-winged Teal, and a pair of Common
Mergansers.
At All Faiths Cemetery/Leesville Pond, a pair of Mute Swans
constructing a nest, 2 Red-tail Hawks, a Brown-headed Cowbird, many
Grackles and Robins.(report from Brian Mulhearn)
- 4/3/03 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
-
I heard an early Sora call and whinny 3 or 4 times this morning from the
flooded fields along the Stretch at Broad Meadow Brook. The bird was just
past the area where the path is flooded, thanks to the sanctuary's
resident beaver. Otherwise, it was very quiet with only a handful of
singing Song Sparrows, a few foraging Phoebes, and four flyover Great
Blues to make life more interesting than Chickadees and Grackles, etc.
(report from Howard Shainheit).
- 4/3/03 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- At noon on Salisbury Pond there were 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Mute Swans,
1 Green-winged Teal, 10 American Wigeon, 5 Ring-necked Ducks, 1
Bufflehead, 4 Hooded Mergansers, and 6 Common Mergansers. (report
from Rick Quimby).
- 4/2/03 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
- Fran McMnemy, Rodney Jenkins and I met at Lake
Quaboag in the morning and saw 2 Red-necked Grebes (showing some breeding plumage). Ian Lynch
of Brimfield had reported 1 to Massbird on the 1st. We also saw the 3 Bald
Eagles Mark and Sheila had seen on Sunday, March 30th. There were 2 adults and
1 sub-adult, all sitting on tree branches, but none in the tree with the nest.
The Mute Swan was still there also.
Fran and I then stopped at Spencer Meadows and saw 16 Ring-necked Duck, 2
Green-winged Teal, 1 Hooded Merganser and 3 Wilson's Snipe.
At the Leicester side of Worcester Airport, we had an Eastern Meadowlark and
3 Wilson's Snipe, again. There were 2 Common Mergs at Smith Pond and 16 at
Curtis Pond.
At Notre Dame Cemetery, we saw a pair of Mute Swans, with 1 on the nest, in
the reeds. There were, also, only 6 Mallard and 6 Canada Geese. The swans may
be chasing waterfowl out of there.
All Faith's (Swedish) Cemetery was virtually empty with only 5 Mallard, but at least 40
American Robin.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).
- 4/2/03 -- Winimusset WMA, New Braintree
-
Seen in the morning from the Hardwick Road entrance
were 3 Great Blue Herons, 45 Canada Geese, 30 American
Black Ducks, 30 Mallards, 8 Green-winged Teal, a pair
of American Widgeon, 8 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Common
Mergansers, 8 Hooded Mergansers, a female Kestrel, 7
Killdeer, 10 Ring-billed Gulls, 2 Belted Kingfishers,
2 Northern Flickers, a Pileated Woodpecker, an Eastern
Phoebe, 100+ American Robins, 500+ Red-winged
Blackbirds, 75+ Rusty Blackbirds, 300+ Common Grackles
and 50+ Brown-headed Cowbirds. (report from Chris Buelow)
- 4/2/03 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
-
Amongst the ducks already reported at Bolton Flats were 1 pair of American
Wigeon and 10 male Northern Pintails. The ducks are quick to flush, even the
Blacks and Mallards. HIP BOOTS are required to get you through all of the
water hazards.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 4/2/03 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- At noon highlights included 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Mute Swans, 6
Righ-necked Ducks, 1 Bufflehead, and 13 Hooded Mergansers. At 8:20 AM
a Northern Flicker was seen flying toward the park, but was not found
at noon. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/1/03 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
-
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 01, 2003
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 3 3 83
> Osprey 0 0 0
> Bald Eagle 2 2 5
> Northern Harrier 2 2 4
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1 15
> Cooper's Hawk 0 0 10
> Northern Goshawk 0 0 3
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 26
> Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
> Red-tailed Hawk 3 3 89
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
> Golden Eagle 0 0 0
> American Kestrel 0 0 7
> Merlin 0 0 2
> Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
> Unknown 0 0 13
>
> Total: 11 11 257
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Observation start time: 09:15:00
> Observation end time: 13:15:00
> Total observation time: 4 hours
>
> Site Coordinator: Barton D. Kamp
>
> Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling
(report from Bart Kamp).
For previous sightings, see
March 2003 Archives or
Archive Index