Sightings are listed in reverse chronological order. The email
address of birders submitting reports are listed in the
online email directory.
- 4/30/99 -- Lake Wompanoag, Gardner
- Early this morning 4-30 near Lake Wompanoag:
Ruby Crowned Kinglet 10+;
Golden " " 1;
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1;
Winter Wren 1;
Black + White Warbler 2;
Yellow Rumped Warbler 10+;
Pine Warbler 2;
Palm Warbler 1;
White Throated Sparrow (many singing).
Absent for the past week has been the territorial pair of Loons , that
have nested on the Lake in recent years. They were present a week or
10 days ago. However , I understand Loons will do some lake hopping
this time of year before settling into their breeding sight. This pair
has been on an "odd year" schedule (like the Owls) , having
successfully raise young in 1995 and 1997 , lets hope 99 will be a
good year for them too. I was told last year was NOT a banner year for
Massachusetts loons , apparently the rainy wet May and June was a
factor.
Also today at lunch in Groton were 20 Am. pipits (a fairly
high number for spring?). (report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/30/99 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- A noontime walk yielded 25 species, including a flock of 25 Double-crested
Cormorants flying high overhead (going north, presumably migrating), 1
adult Green Heron (first of the year for the park), 2 Yellow-rumped
Warblers, 2 Pine Warblers, and 1 male Black-and-White
Warbler (also 1st of the year). (report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/30/99 -- City of Worcester
- A quick tour this morning of Leesville had the following birds:
LEESVILLE POND/NEW SWEDISH CEMETARY: GREEN HERON (1); Wood Duck (6);
Killdeer (pair w/nest); E. Phoebe (3); E. Kingbird (1); N. Rough-Winged
Swallow (4); Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (4); Yellow-Rumped Warbler (19); Pine
Warbler (2); Palm Warbler (1).
NOTRE DAME CEMETARY: Great Blue Heron (1); Wood Duck (6); E. Phoebe (1);
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (2); YELLOW WARBLER (1); Pine Warbler (2); NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH (1). (report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/29/99 -- Gardner Area
- The following are Hilites from the Gardner area included:
Pie-billed Grebe 2;
Green Wing Teal 6;
Common Snipe 2;
Great Horned Owl 3 ( 1 ad. 2 young);
Horned Lark 1.
At least 1 Pie-billed Grebe has been calling from the Smith Street
Marsh in High Ridge WMA since early April. Yesterday morning I saw 2
in the marsh ; it'd be nice if they stayed to raise a family.
The "odd year" Owls were seen in Templeton near the Gardner Airport on
an old Great Blue Heron nest. I call them "odd year" because they've
used that particular nest in 1995 , 1997 and now 1999 , but not
"inbetween". Perhaps they enjoy a change of scenery ever other year? The
young appear nearly full size , brownish gray and downy with very short
ear tufts. The adult was a few hundred feet from the nest in the company
of 1/2 dozen Blue Jays.
There no longer appears to be an active great Blue heron colony at this
marsh for the first time since I've birded in the area (late 1980's).
Over the years from 5 to 12 pairs called this marsh home , about 6 or 8
years back they moved from 1 side to the other. They appeared to
coexist with the Owls just fine. Earlier this week the Worcester
Telegram had nice article on the succession of beaver ponds and that
Great Blue Colonies evetually move on due this natural Succession (the
gradual filling in with organic matter).... and so , I guess , it was
time for them move on. (report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/29/99 -- Downtown Worcester
- Jo-Ann Ferrie reports that the Peregrine was sitting on top of the
Bancroft Building (50 Franklin
Street) from 8:00-8:15 this morning. It is on the corner of the
roof at the intersection of Porter and
Franklin Streets. She observed it from her office on the 16th floor
of the BankBoston Tower building (formerly the Mechanics Tower),
which faces Franklin across the Worcester Common. (report from
Jo-Ann Ferrie (jaferrie@modl.com)
- 4/29/99 -- Hodges Village, Oxford
- Birds today included 1 Brown Thrasher, 1 Black-and-White Warbler, 1 Northern
Waterthrush, 2 Eastern Towhee, 3 Blue-headed Vireo, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
5 Palm Warbler, 4 Pine Warber, 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 4 Hermit Thrush
, 1
Winter Wren
, 1 Black-throated Green Warbler and 3 White-throated Sparrow. (report
from Paul Meleski).
- 4/29/99 -- Paradise Pond, Princeton
- While boating around this pond off rt. 31, there were 1
Broad-winged Hawk (did not appear to be migrating), 1 Spotted
Sandpiper, and 1 Black-and-White Warbler. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/28/99 -- Lake Wompanoag section of Gardner
- The Winter Wren that was singing so much in the area yesterday was NOT
singing today , but the Raven was calling.
AND High Ridge this am: The Pie-Billed Grebe was still calling and 3
Green Wing teal were seen. (report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/28/99 -- Gillespie Rd, Charlton
- A Northern Waterthrush singing at the end of Gillespie
Rd this morning. (report from Paul Meleski).
- 4/27/99 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling
- The pair of great horned owls with nest
and two owlets are still being observed. The owlets have doubled in size.
Also seen: 3 wild turkeys,2 broadwing hawks, 1 kestrel, 1 sharpshinned hawk, 2
hermit thrush , and only 2 juncos left out of a large flock all winter.
(report from Richard Spedding).
- 4/27/99 -- City of Worcester Cemeteries
- An early morning check of two cemetaries produced the following:
LEESVILLE CEMETARY: Wood Duck (5); Green-Winged Teal (pair); Belted
Kingfisher (1); Eastern Phoebe (2); EASTERN KINGBIRD (1); N. Rough-Winged
Swallow (2); Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (10+); Yellow-Rumped Warbler (70+); Pine
Warbler (2); Palm Warbler (5); White-Throated Sparrow (30+).
HOPE CEMETARY: Eastern Phoebe (1); HOUSE WREN (1); Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
(10+); BROWN THRASHER (3); Yellow-Rumped Warbler (20+); Palm Warbler (4).
An additional 50+ White-Throated Sparrows were in my immediate neighborhood
this morning, so it definitely seems that today is a major movement of that
species. (report from
Mark Lynch).
- 4/27/99 -- Lake Wompanoag section of Gardner
- Early this am 4-27 in the Lake Wompanoag section of Gardner the
following were seen and/or heard:
Am. Kestrel 2 (a pair);
Merlin 1;
Winter Wren 2;
No. Waterthrush 1;
Black+White Warbler 1;
Red-Breasted Nuthatch 3;
Raven 1 ( croaking in the distance);
Wild Turkey 1 (gobbling).
This is the earliest No. Waterthrush for me in the area by 1 day ,
last year I had one on 4-30 in the exact same spot (with a B+white
Warb) as today's. One of the Winter Wren's just wouldn't shut up , I'm
really not complaining , but this little guy with the big mouth just
wouldn't let any one else get "a song" in edge wise. [ed note: there have been several reports
of very vocal Winter Wrens, including one seen well on the Forbush bird club trip
on Saturday 4/24 at Tom Swamp] (report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/26/99 -- City of Worcester
- 4/26: CITY OF WORCESTER
ALONG THE STRETCH, AT BROAD MEADOW BROOK (early AM): Species included: COM
MON
SNIPE (1); HOUSE WREN (1); Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (7); Eastern Bluebird (1);
EASTERN TOWHEE (1); Chipping Sparrow (2); Field Sparrow (1) Swamp Sparrow
(2); Song Sparrow (17); White-Throated Sparrow (12).
LEESVILLE POND: Great Blue Heron (1); Wood Duck (6); Killdeer (4, includin
g
pair at nest); Downy Woodpecker (1 at nest hole); E. Phoebe (2); N.
Rough-Winged Swallow (2); FISH CROW (1); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (6); GRAY
CATBIRD (1); YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (69+); PALM WARBLER (12); PINE WARBLER
(1).
DOWNTOWN, SALEM ST. PARKING LOT: Broad-Winged Hawk (6); Red-tailed Hawk (1
resident); PEREGRINE FALCON (1ad:); Tree Swallow (2 migrating). Note: A
(the?) Peregrine Falcon has been spotted again among the downtown buildings.
Originally it was reported by an unknown observer to be "nesting" on the
Denholm building. [ed. note: Bob Bradbury reports that he saw the
Peregrine downtown on Thursday, 4/22 ].
Fran McMenemy spent some time looking over that area and
did not see the bird. He (and Joan Zumpfe) later found the bird on the
"Mechanics' Bank Building and also saw the bird on adjacent buildings. We saw
the bird wafting behind the Mechanics Bank Building heading for the Phone
Company building. This Peregrine is a lot harder to spot and birders are
encouraged to try various vantage points. All sightings of this bird should
be reported here in the off chance that this IS the same Peregrine that was
seen during the winter AND the possibility of its nesting.
SUNDAY, 4/25:
POUTWATER POND WMA, HOLDEN: Highlights were:Brown creeper (2); Ruby-Crown
ed
Kinglet (3); Hermit Thrush (8); Yellow-Rumped Warbler (8).
DAWSON POND, HOLDEN: Mute Swan (a pair. This bears watching.)
(report from
Mark Lynch).
- 4/25/99 -- Hodges Village Dam, Oxford
- Highlights today at Hodges
Village Dam included the first Black-throated Green Warbler of the
season,
3 Belted Kingfisher (nest burrow located with pair nearby),
4 Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2 pair with nest holes located),
4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
1 Eastern Bluebird,
10 Yellow-rumped Warbler,
7 Pine Warbler,
4 Palm Warbler
(report from Paul Meleski).
- 4/25/99 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester
- The following species highlights were observed with John Liller's intro to birding
class this morning (4/25/99)
:
COMMON LOON (2 - flying over);
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (1 - flying over);
Turkey Vulture (2 - perched);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2);
BLUE-HEADED VIREO (1);
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (3);
Eastern Bluebird (5);
HERMIT THRUSH (1);
EASTERN TOWHEE (2) (report from John Liller).
- 4/25/99 -- Northboro/Westboro area
- On Sunday morning, April 25, at the Fisheries and Wildlife area in
Westboro, 25 species of birds were recorded, most noteable being a RUSTY
BLACKBIRD. Good views were had of the bird sitting
in the lone tree in the first parking area you come to, upon entering
the F&W area from the
parking lot off of Rte 135 next to the Cobb House.
Other species
worth noting were Field Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow and a calling Ring-necked
Pheasant.
At the Edmund Hill Woods in Northboro, also on Sunday from 12-1p.m.,
besides seven common species, there was a male Eastern Bluebird and two
Hermit Thrushes. On Saturday, at 7 a.m. a Winter Wren was calling
loudly. (report from
Ann Boover).
- 4/25/99 -- Worcester Pond Survey
- The following were tallied by LISA AND SIMON HENNIN:
COMMON LOON (1 br.plumage: Indian Lake);
Double-Crested Cormorant(7);
Great Blue Heron (3);
Mute Swan (2: the agressive cob at the north end of Quinsigamond was not
present);
Canada Goose (75);
Wood Duck (22: all at Leesville and Notre Dame/Hadwin park);
Green-Winged Teal (5: Notre Dame);
A. Black Duck (3);
Mallard (74);
Killdeer (5: bird on nest at Leesville);
Ring-Billed Gull (132: most 1st Summer);
Herring Gull (1);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
Swamp Sparrow (1);
Red-Winged Blackbird (31);
Also seen at the ponds: N. Rough-Winged Swallow (11); Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
(1); Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (1: Leesville); Hermit Thrush (2); Yellow-Rumped
Warbler (9); Palm warbler (1). (report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/25/99 -- Gardner area birds
- Hilites among 55 species present in and around Gardner yesterday
morning included:
Pie Billed Grebe 1 ( Templeton);
American Bittern 1 ( Westminster);
Green Wing teal 2 ( Templeton);
Ring Necked Duck 6 ( 2 Westminster/ 4 Templeton);
Hooded Merganser 4 ( 2 Westminster / 2 Templeton);
Rough-Winged Swallow 4 ( 2 Gardner / 2 Westminster);
Barn Swallow 3 ( 1 West / 2 templeton);
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker 3 ( Westminster);
Blue Headed Vireo 3 ( Westminster);
Yellow-Rumped Warbler 2 ( only!);
Pine Warbler 6 ( 3 Westminster / 3 Gardner);
Palm Warbler 2 ( Westminster);
Purple Finch 3 ( Westminster).
The Bittern was calling from the "lower marsh" in High Ridge WMA off East
Gardner Road. I've yet to see or hear the bird from the "upper marsh"
(off Smith Street). Warbler activity was sparse.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/22/99 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
- An evening walk from the Smith Street entrance yielded a
Pie-Billed Grebe, still present and calling , 4 Common Snipe
flushed from the marsh edge , Woodcock (2 at least) displaying ,
an Eastern Bluebird and 2 Barred Owls frolicking about.
The Barred Owls started with their typical "who cooks for you" calls
then once the 2 birds were closer together they made a variety of
softer partial calls , crow like noises and a few times they sounded
like chimpanzies. At one point they were on either side of me no more
than 100' away , I layed on the pavement and listened to the show , in
stereo , and watched as one flew across to the other then they'd fly
back across and so on. This went on for about 10 minutes until this
traveling show moved deeper into the woods. (report from Tom pirro).
- 4/21/99 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights today included 3 Wood Ducks (2M 1F), 2 Ruby-crowned
Kinglets, 1 Hermit Thrush, 1 Pine Warbler and 1 Palm Warbler. (report
from Rick Quimby).
- 4/20/99 -- Gardner area
- Last evening about off Kelton Street a Barred Owl was calling.
This morning at High Ridge WMA a single Pie-billed grebe was seen
and heard calling (love that call) , also 3 Green Wing Teal (last year
I saw a pair on May 26th which seemed late to me).
Also a small group of American Tree Sparrows
appeared to be discussing some up coming travel plans. Lots of Wood
Ducks , a few Hooded Mergs (a pair or 2 usually breeds here) , but
little song bird activity. (report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/20/99 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
- Highlights this morning (4/20/99) included AMERICAN BITTERN (1 - 3rd Sanctuary Record);
Canada Goose (47 - a pair maybe nesting in the same pond where they have
nested in
the past);
Wild Turkey (2);
COMMON SNIPE (1);
Tree Swallow (8);
Carolina Wren (3);
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (2);
Eastern Bluebird (3);
HERMIT THRUSH (4);
PALM WARBLER (1);
CHIPPING SPARROW(1);
Field Sparrow (6);
Song Sparrow (23);
SWAMP SPARROW(2);
White-throated Sparrow(5). (report from John Liller).
- 4/19/99 -- Swedish Cem./Leesville Pond, Worcester
- There were 1 Chipping Sparrow, 1 White-throated Sparrow,
a pair of Am. Wigeon, 3 pair of Wood Duck , 1
Dbl-cr. Cormorant, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Killdeer on the ground, and
4 or 5 N. Rough-winged Swallows (report from Howard Shainheit).
- 4/19/99 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling
- There was a pair of great horned owls with two owlets on
nest; a pair of wild turkeys ,male displaying; 1 Louisiana
water-thrush; 1 ruby crowned kinglet.
Also, along the Nashua River in Lancaster, there was one adult bald eagle
(report from Richard Spedding).
- 4/18/99 -- Wachusett Mountain
- From the southern ledges, the following hawks were observed in migration
between 10 am and 3 pm:
98 Broadwinged Hawks, 12 Osprey, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks,
3 accipiter species, 4 Am. Kestrel, and 1 immature Bald Eagle (report from
Rick Quimby).
Also on the mountain, along the Bicentennial Trail and Pine Hill Trail
there were 1 Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker (both calling and tapping), and 4 singing Winter Wrens. (report
from Paul Meleski).
- 4/18/99 -- Hodges Village ACE, Oxford
- Highlights this AM (4/18) included
4 Wood Duck,
2 American Kestrel,
4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
3 Eastern Bluebird,
1 Hermit Thrush,
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler,
10 Pine Warbler,
4 Palm Warbler,
1 Louisiana Waterthrush,
7 Field Sparrow,
6 Swamp Sparrow,
2 Rusty Blackbird, and 1 Purple Finch. (report from Paul Meleski).
- 4/18/99 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- The following were tallied on a census of the Barre Falls Dam/Rutland State
Park tract:
Great Blue Heron (12 birds; 8 active nests in the rookery);
Snow Goose (8 migrating overhead);
Canada Goose (2);
Wood Duck (13);
Mallard (15);
A. Black Duck (5);
HOODED MERGANSER (pair w/female checking out Wood Duck box);
Osprey (5);
N. Harrier (1);
Turkey Vulture (8);
Sharp-Shinned Hawk (12);
Cooper's Hawk (1);
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (111);
Red-Shouldered Hawk (1);
A. Kestrel (8);
PEREGRINE FALCON (1ad);
Ruffed Grouse (2);
Virginia Rail (2);
Ring-Billed Gull (1);
Mourning Dove (7);
Belted Kingfisher (2);
Downy Woodpecker (5);
Hairy Woodpecker (3);
N. Flicker (11);
E. Phoebe (12);
Tree Swallow (77);
Blue Jay (14);
A. Crow (19);
C. Raven (pair nesting);
Black-Capped Chickadee (113);
Tufted Titmouse (17);
Red-Breasted Nuthatch (18);
White-Breasted Nuthatch (9);
Brown Creeper (18);
Winter Wren (4);
Golden-Crowned Kinglet (11);
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (10);
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (2);
Hermit Thrush (16);
A. Robin (32);
Blue-Headed Vireo (1);
Yellow-Rumped warbler (14);
Pine Warbler (42);
Palm Warbler (2);
N. Cardinal (2);
Song Sparrow (13);
SwampSparrow (17);
White-Throated Sparrow (1);
Dark-Eyed Junco (4);
Red-Winged Blackbird (54);
C. Grackle (62);
Brown-Headed Cowbird (22);
Purple Finch (10);
A. Goldfinch (19);
EVENING GROSBEAK (6; all pairs);
Plus: lots of Peepers, Wood Frogs, Red-Spotted Newts, E. Painted Turtles and
7 Spring Azures (but no Mourning Cloaks) (report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/18/99 Gardner/Westminster area
- The follow are some highlites from the Gardner area from the past
weekend and this earlier morning:
Migrating Hawks over the backyard while doing yardwork between 2 and
4pm sat. 4-17:
Am. Ketsrel 2;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4;
Osprey 2;
T. Vulture 2;
BroadWing Hawk 19;
(Most birds were low-medium height , largest group was 4 BW's mostly
singles and doubles.)
Sunday AM 4-18 Westminster:
Rusty Blackbird 2;
YB Sapsucker 1;
N. Harrier 1 migrant;
BroadWing hawk 3;
Monday 4/19 7AMish in Gardner:
Hermit Thrush 2;
Evening grosbeak 1 seen and heard in flight a male;
Winter Wren 1 singing;
GC Kinglet 2;
C. Loon 2 The Lake Wompanoag pair. (report from
Tom Pirro).
- 4/17/99 -- City of Worcester Survey
- The following were seen in the city of Worcester on Saturday:
LEESVILLE POND: Double-Crested Cormorant (2); Wood Duck (14); Mallard (11);
A. Black Duck (4); A. Wigeon (2); Killdeer (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); E.
Phoebe (3); Tree Swallow (1); N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (2 perched); Carolina
Wren (1); Yellow-Rumped Warbler (15); Pine Warbler (1); A. Tree Sparrow (2);
Chipping Sparrow (3); Swamp Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (8); White-Throated
Sparrow (2); Dark-Eyed Junco (5).
NOTRE DAME CEMETARY: Wood Duck (10); Green-Winged Teal (2); Mallard (13); A.
Black Duck (4); Common Snipe (1); Hairy woodpecker (1); N. Flicker (2); Pine
Warbler (2).
HOPE CEMETARY: Killdeer (1); Golden-Crowned Kinglet (2); HERMIT THRUSH (2);
N. Flicker (8); Chipping Sparrow (8); Song Sparrow (3); White-Throated
Sparrow (2); Dark-Eyed Junco (25).
COES RESERVOIR: Pied-Billed Grebe (2); Mallard (9); Killdeer (1);
N.ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (2).
GODDARD MEMORIAL PARK: Double-Crested Cormorant (flock of 17 migrating);
Great Blue Heron (kettle of 5 circling high and migrating north); Turkey
Vulture (3); Osprey (1); Sharp-Shinned Hawk (1); BROAD-WINGED HAWK (3);
Red-tailed hawk (6); Wood Duck (1); Tree Swallow (1 migrating); WINTER WREN
(1 singing along Airport Hill up from Mill Street); Savannah Sparrow (3); E.
Meadowlark (1).
BOYNTON PARK: Ruffed Grouse (1 drumming); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Downy
Woodpecker (4); PILEATED WOODPECKER (1); E. Phoebe (2); WINTER WREN (1
singing); Pine Warbler (1); LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (1 singing).
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/15/99 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
- Highlights of a morning walk included 1 Blue-gray Gnatchatcher, 13 Common Snipe, 10 Green-wing Teal, 2 Pied-billed Grebe (1 calling), 1 Wood Duck (drake),
8 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Virginia Rails, 5 Blue-winged Teal, 3 Tree Swallows,
and 1 Am. Kestrel.
(report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/14/99 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
- An evening walk (6:30-8:00 pm) yielded
Pied-Billed Grebe (1); Great Blue Heron (3); Canada Goose (10); Wood Duck
(13); Green-Winged Teal (52: many of the teal flew in to roost after dusk);
Mallard (14); A. Black Duck (6); Blue-Winged Teal (pair); Red-Tailed Hawk
(2); Virginia Rail (4); Killdeer (4); Common Snipe (12: some performing the
'winnowing" display); A. Woodcock (10: all displaying); A. Robin (19);
Savannah Sparrow (3); Song Sparrow (17); Swamp Sparrow (3 singing); N.
Cardinal (1); Red-winged Blackbird (240: besides the resident birds, there
were several migrating flocks of mostly females); Common Grackle (155);
Interestingly there were NO swallows of any species despite the fact that
there was an abundance of insects, including several Bumblebees.
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/14/99 -- Wilder Brook, Sterling
- There was a Louisiana water-thrush on April 13th and
14th. (report from Richard Spedding).
- 4/14/99 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Ducks on the pond today included 2 American Wigeon, 2 Common
Mergansers, and 1 Hooded Merganser. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/13/99 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
- Highlights included: Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Wild Turkey (7);
Common Snipe (1);
Carolina Wren (3);
Eastern Bluebird (1);
and Fish Crow (1) (1 mile from the Sanctuary). (report from John Liller,
jliller@worcesteracademy.org).
- 4/11/99 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
- Early Sunday evening (4/11),
Lisa and Simon Henin, Val Miller, Sheila Carrol and Mark Lynch had the following
birds at Bolton flats (about 5:30 PM):
PIED-BILLED GREBE: pair, 1 calling;
Green-Winged Teal: 10+;
Ring-Necked Duck: 2;
Virginia Rail: 2;
Killdeer: 6;
Common (Wilson's) Snipe: 10+;
Tree Swallow: 30+;
N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 4;
BARN SWALLOW: 1;
American Pipit: 8;
A. Tree Sparrow: 1;
Song Sparrow: 25+;
Rusty Blackbird: 3-4;
Red-Winged Blackbird: 300+(flocks of many females) (report from Mark Lynch,
moalynch@aol.com).
- 4/11/99 -- Gardner, Templeton, Phillipston
- Some sightings from sunday am 4-11-99 in Gardner , Temp. and a bit of
Phillipston:
High Ridge WMA Smith street:
1 Pie-billed Grebe (Calling);
2 Green Wing Teal (a pair);
5 Hooded Merganser,
2 Common Merg.,
~10 Wood Duck ,
1 Pine Warbler,
and 8 Tree Sparrow.
The Pie-billed was calling from the same location on 4-2.
Stone Bridge Pond (a small shallow pond near the Templeton/Phillipston
town line) , had a nice assortment of waterfowl including:
Canada Goose 6;
Mallard Duck ~10;
Black Duck 32;
Green Wing Teal 13;
Wood Duck 8;
Hooded Merganser 4;
Common Merganser 5;
Ring-Necked Duck 19;
Belted King Fisher 1;
Osprey 1;
Winter Wren 1 (singing);
Great Blue Heron 3. And
just up stream from Stone Bridge Pond:
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet 2;
Palm Warbler 5;
Yellow Rumped Warbler 2; and
Rusty Blackbird 3. (report from Tom Pirro, Tpirro@nebs.com).
- 4/10/99 -- Bolton Flats (Bolton) and Delaney (Harvard)
- On the Forbush Bird Club field trip, at Bolton Flats
there were 1 Shrike species (probable
Northern) , 1 Pied-billed Grebe calling, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 2 Snow
Geese, 3 American Pipits, and 15 drake Common Mergansers (fly-overs).
At Delaney Wildlife Management Area, there were 1 Osprey, 2 Pied-billed
Grebes, 2 Brown Creepers singing, and 9 occupied Great Blue Heron nests.
(report from Rick Quimby, rsquimby@wpi.edu).
- 4/10/99 -- City of Worcester
-
BROAD MEADOW BROOK MAS (The "Stretch" only); highlights:
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (1);
N. Flicker (6) ;
E. Phoebe (2) ;
Tree Swallow (3) ;
Carolina Wren (1) ;
E. BLUEBIRD (pair) ;
Field Sparrow (1) ;
Song Sparrow (13) .
LEESVILLE POND:
Double-Crested Cormorant (1);
Great Blue Heron (2) ;
Wood Duck (40) ;
Green-Winged Teal (4) ;
Mallard (11) ;
A. Black Duck (9) ;
A. Wigeon (3) ;
Red-Tailed Hawk (1) ;
Killdeer (4) ;
N. Flicker (7) ;
E. Phoebe (3) ;
Tree Swallow (7) ;
Brown Creeper (1) ;
Carolina Wren (1) ;
Golden-crowned Kinglet (2) ;
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (1) ;
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (22) ;
PINE WARBLER (1) ;
PALM WARBLER (3) ;
A. Tree Sparrow (2) ;
Chipping Sparrow (5) ;
Dark-Eyed Junco (20) .
NOTRE DAME CEMETARY:
Great Blue Heron (1);
Wood Duck (5) ;
Mallard (5) ;
Red-Tailed Hawk (1) ;
A. Black Duck (2) ;
VIRGINIA RAIL (1) ;
Killdeer (2) ;
COMMON SNIPE (2) ;
B. Kingfisher (2) ;
N. Flicker (5) ;
E. Phoebe (2) ;
HERMIT THRUSH (1: hopping around the graves like a robin);
Song Sparrow (17) ;
Dark-Eyed Junco (3) ;
WORCESTER AIRPORT HILL (including Goddard MP): ;
Turkey Vulture (1) ;
Sharp-Shinned Hawk (3) ;
Red-Tailed Hawk (8) ;
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (1) ;
A. Kestrel (1) ;
E. Phoebe (2) ;
Tree Swallow (4) ;
BOYNTON PARK: ;
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (1m) .
BIOTECH POND: ;
Green-winged Teal (2) ;
Sharp-Shinned Hawk (1) ;
Red-Tailed Hawk (1) ;
Killdeer (2) ;
COMMON SNIPE (4) ;
Tree Swallow(1). .
At the north end of Lake Quinsigamond (not Worcester):
A pair of Mute Swans are breeding, the male being very aggressive.
( report from Mark Lynch, moalynch@aol.com).
- 4/10/99 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
-
The following highlights were recorded with John Liller's
Beginning Birding class) at
Broad Meadow Brook (Worcester) Saturday morning (4/10/99):
Wood Duck (3 - 2 males + 1 female) ;
Eastern Phoebe (4);
TREE SWALLOW (7);
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1);
Eastern Bluebird (3 - 2 males + 1 female);
HERMIT THRUSH (2) ;
FIELD SPARROW (4);
Red-winged Blackbird (23 - much territorial aggression);
Brown-headed Cowbird (16);
(report from John Liller).
- 4/10/99 -- Hodges Village, Oxford
- Even with the stiff wind there were these highlights:
12 Rusty Blackbird, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 13 Palm Warbler, 4
Pine Warbler, 1 Purple Finch, 1 Field Sparrow, 3 Swamp Sparrow,
1 Hermit Thrush, 1 Winter Wren, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 6 Wood
Duck, 2 Red-shouldered Hawk (I believe the same ones I've been
getting for a month now-I get them in the same place every time-probable
nesters?), 9 Brown-headed Cowbird, 1 White-throated Sparrow,
and 1 American Kestrel. (report from Paul Meleski,
pmeleski@aol.com).
- 4/10/99 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling
- There were two pairs of bluebirds (at two seperate nesting
boxes), 1 am. kestrel, and a pair of great horned owls,
one of which is sitting very
tight on its nest. (report from Richard Spedding).
- 4/9/99 -- Gillespie Rd, Charlton
- A Chipping Sparrow was heard at the end of
Gillespie Rd today (report from Paul Meleski).
- 4/9/99 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- The first Double-crested Cormorant (adult plumage)
of the year has appeared at the
park, about 1 week ahead of the usual arrival time. The Black-crowned
Night Heron stayed for two days, but is no longer there. (report from
Rick Quimby).
- 4/8/99 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
- A palm warbler was seen by Howard Shainheit at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife
Sanctuary (Worcester) in the afternoon (4/8/99) (report from John Liller).
- 4/6/99 -- Round Meadow Pond, Westminster
- The Tufted Duck
was NOT present today at Round Meadow Pond , although
the 2 Lesser Scaup were still present. (report from Tom Pirro).
The Tufted Duck was also NOT present this morning at Coachlace pond
in Clinton, although there were 8 Lesser Scaup (report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/6/99 -- Bancroft Tower Hill area, Worcester
- A five minute walk near Mark Lynch's house (Bancroft Tower Hill area) yielded a pair of
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS (excellent views), along with N. Flicker (2-3);
Eastern Phoebe (3);
Tree Swallow (2);
White-Breasted Nuthatch (6: including pair lining nesting cavity);
Golden-Crowned Kinglet(5); White-Throated Sparrow (2: singing); Song Sparrow
(3); Dark-Eyed Junco (10+); Brown-Headed Cowbird (1); Purple Finch (1); A.
Goldfinch (3) as well as numbers of Mourning Doves, Black-Capped Chickadees,
Blue Jays, N. Cardinals, Common Grackles, ect. (report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/5/99 -- Rowley Hill , Sterling
- There were a pair of great horned owls , one
sitting on its nest about 80 feet high in a white pine, 1 winter wren, and 8
golden crowned kinglets. (report from Richard Spedding).
- 4/5/99 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights today included 1 adult Black-crowned Night Heron,
2 Pine Warblers, 1 Belted Kingfisher, and 1 Hooded Merganser.
(report from Rick Quimby).
- 4/4/99 -- Round Meadow Pond, Westminster
- The TUFTED DUCK
was still present at Round Meadow Pond, Sunday, 4/4 @9AM
(report from Paul Meleski).
- 4/4/99 -- Round Meadow Pond, Westminster
- The TUFTED DUCK
was still present 4/4 at Round Meadow Pond, Westminster. It
is now accompanied by 6 lesser scaup. Also observed in Westminster were 106
ring-necked ducks (94 at Pierce Reservoir), 14 common mergansers, 12 common
goldeneyes, 16 bufflehead and 6 wood ducks. (report from Chuck Caron).
- 4/4/99 -- Bolton Flats(Am)/Petersham (PM)
- The following were noted at Bolton Flats Sunday morning:
A. BITTERN (1 pumping); Great-Blue Heron (1); SNOW GOOSE (2 on the ground);
Canada Goose (10); Green-Winged Teal (157); A. Black Duck (75); Mallard
(85); BLUE-WINGED TEAL (1m); N. Pintail (2);Turkey Vulture (1); Red-Tailed
Hawk (2); Ring-Billed Gull (10); Killdeer (10: including a pair mating); C.
Snipe (16: undoubtably many more present); N. Flicker (5); E. Phoebe (2);
Golden-Crowned Kinglet (4); A. Robin (220); Tree Sparrow (2); Swamp Sparrow
(2 singing); Fox Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (110; they were everywhere!); E.
Meadowlark (1 singing); Red-Winged Blackbird (85).
HARVARD:
MUTE SWAN (pair: not a good sign); Canada Goose (24); Ring-Necked Duck (8);
Turkey Vulture (1); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); A. Kestrel (1); Tree Swallow (2); E.
Bluebird (1m); Tree Sparrow (4); PURPLE FINCH (1).
PETERSHAM:
HARVARD POND:
Ring-Necked Duck (94); Common Goldeneye (22); Common Merganser (5); Hooded
Merganser (4); Turkey Vulture (4).
FEDERATED WOMEN'S CLUBS STATE FOREST:
Ring-Necked Duck (13); Bufflehead (5); Winter Wren (1); Red-Breasted Nuthatch
(2); Brown Creeper (3); Golden-Crowned Kinglet (16); Purple Finch (1).
WEST STREET:
Wild Turkey (10).
WINE ROAD, NEW BRAINTREE;
VESPER SPARROW (1; excellent, close views ).
Note: as of Sunday, the gates of Barre Falls Dam/Rutland State Park were
still closed. (report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/3/99 -- North Central Mass.
- Some hilites from saturday 4-3 in and around North Central Mass. were:
2 Common Loon (1 Westminster 1 Ashburham),
1 DC Cormerant (Gardner),
4 Green Wing teal (Templeton),
approx 75 Ring Necked Duck,
2 Lesser Scaup, (Westminster),
1 Tufted Duck (Westminster),
approx 20 Wood Duck ,
approx 20 Bufflehead ,
8 C. Goldeneye(Westminster),
approx 15 Hooded Merg.,
approx 25 Co. Merg.,
2 C. Snipe (Gardner),
5 AM.Woodcock (Gardner),
1 Bonepart's Gull (Adult winter plumage Gardner),
3 Sharp Shinned hawk (templeton),
300 Am. Robin,
1 Swamp Sparrow (Gardner).
The Bonepart's Gull was a nice surprise on Crystal Lake , it was gone
a few hours later. Many Robins where feeding in the fields on Norcross
Hill Rd. in Templeton included 1 with a substantial amount of white
across the wings and back , the pattern was symetrical and noticable
both perched and in flight from 200 feet. (report from Tom Pirro).
- 4/3/99 -- Worcester City Pond Census
- The following were seen Saturday on one of our twice monthly surveys of the
ponds and lake in and contiguous with the city of Worcester:
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (4 ad, Curtis Pond: a sure sign of spring); Mute
Swan (3, 1 on nest); Canada Goose (69); Wood Duck (24); Green-Winged Teal
(16); A. Black Duck (14); Mallard (98); N. SHOVELER (2m at Indian Lake:
originally south end, but were flushed by canoeists and ended at north end);
A. Wigeon (1m); Bufflehead (8); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (17);
Red-Tailed Hawk (2); Killdeer (10); Ring-Billed Gull (173); Herring Gull
(24); Great Black-Backed Gull (2ad); B. Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (7);
N. Flicker (6); RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (1m: Patach Reservoir trail); E.
Phoebe (8); Tree Swallow (29); N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (1: Leesville Pond,
year-bird for me); Brown Creeper (1); Carolina Wren (1); WINTER WREN (1:
Leesville, always a good "city" bird); Golden-Crowned Kinglet (17: defintely
"on the move"); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1); A. Robin (101); Yellow-Rumped
Warbler (13: starting to migrate); Song Sparrow (61); White-Throated Sparrow
(1); Dark-Eyed Junco (26); Eastern Meadowlark (1); Red-Winged Blackbird
(76); Common Grackle (300); Brown-Headed Cowbird (6); A. Goldfinch (23);
PLUS: many E. Painted Turtles, many Muskrats and (1) E. Cottontail. (report from
Mark Lynch).
- 4/3/99 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
- Highlights from John Liller's Beginning Birding class field trip at
Broad Meadow Brook (Worcester) Saturday morning (4/3/99):
Wood Duck (2 - pair);
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (1);
Wild Turkey (1);
KILLDEER (2 - flying over);
COMMON SNIPE (1);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Northern Flicker (5);
Eastern Phoebe (4);
TREE SWALLOW (1);
BROWN CREEPER (1);
Carolina Wren (4);
Eastern Bluebird (3);
HERMIT THRUSH (1 - SINGING!);
American Tree Sparrow (4) (report from John Liller).
- 4/2/99 -- Barre Falls Dam/Rutland State Park/Hardwick
-
BARRE FALLS DAM/RUTLAND STATE PARK (periphery only as the gates are still
closed):
Canada Goose (1); Wood Duck (2); Green-Winged Teal (1m); Mallard (6);
Ring-Necked Duck (3); Turkey Vulture (1); N. Harrier (1); A. Kestrel (3);
Hering Gull (1); Rock Dove (1); Mourning Dove (3); Downy Woodpecker (4);
Hairy Woodpecker (1); N. Flicker (1); E. Phoebe (14); Tree Swallow (4); Blue
Jay (44); A. Crow (10); Black-capped Chickadee (47); Tufted Titmouse (9);
Red-Breasted Nuthatch (2); White-Breasted Nuthatch (6); Brown Creeper (5);
Winter Wren (1); Golden-Crowned Kinglet (13); E. Bluebird (5); A. Robin
(113); PINE WARBLER (6: all males); FOX SPARROW (2); Song Sparrow (6);
Dark-Eyed Junco (24); Red-Winged Blackbird (15); RUSTY BLACKBIRD (2); C.
Grackle (16); Brown-Headed Cowbird (7); PURPLE FINCH (3m); A. Goldfinch (17).
An amazing number and variety of birds considering we couldn't even drive in
any gates. A real testament to the importance of this area for birds. A
ranger for the Army Corps of Engineers told us that the MDC 'may" open the
gates this weekend.
HARDWICK(mostly farm fields):
Great Blue Heron (3); Canada Goose (12); Wood Duck (2); A. Black Duck (4);
Mallard (12); Ring-Necked Duck (14); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser
(11); Turkey Vulture (14); Red-Tailed Hawk (3); A. Kestrel (6); Ruffed Grouse
(1); Downy Woodpecker (6); N. Flicker (2); Pileated Woodpecker (3; great
sighting of a teritorial pair driving an interloper off with lots of displays
and calling); E. Phoebe (14); Tree Swallow (26); Blue Jay (31); Black-Capped
Chickadee (68); T. Titmouse (15); White-Breasted Nuthatch (7); Winter Wren
(1); Golden-Crowned Kinglet (3); A. Robin (353); N. Mockingbird (2); N.
Cardinal (7); Field Sparrow (2); FOX SPRROW (9: many singing); Song Sparrow
(53); White-Throated Sparrow (2); Dark-Eyed Junco (168); Red-Winged Blackbird
(130); C. Grackle (85); Brown-Headed Cowbird (60); PURPLE FINCH (3m); A.
Goldfinch (17).
Good movements of early spring migrants. Also; lots of Wood Frogs quacking.
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 4/2/99 -- Hodges Village, Oxford
- Highlights of the weekly census at Hodges Village ACE in Oxford today:
1 Common Raven (seen calling while perched on a snag, then flying off-wedge tail
clearly visible), 2 Pine Warbler, 10 Wood Duck, 1 Northern Flicker, 4 Eastern
Phoebe, 1 Swamp Sparrow and 3 Eastern Bluebird. (report from Paul Meleski).
- 4/2/99 -- Round Meadow Pond, Westminster
- James Mallet and Tom Pirro observed the
Tufted Duck and the 2 Lesser Scaup on
Round Meadow Pond in Westminster at 8AM this morning 4-2-99. The ducks
were by the cattails by Rte2. Other waterfowl on the pond included about a
dozen Common Mergs. , 1 Hooded Merg. , and 8 Buffleheads. (report from
Tom Pirro -- please note that Tom does not have e-mail at home so he cannot update
the Tufted Duck status over the weekend. Hopefully others will be checking, and
send in their reports, positive or negative).
- 4/2/99 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling
- There were 2 great horned owls, 7 turkey vultures,1
pileated woodpecker, 1 killdeer, 1 phoebe, and a pair of bluebirds at nesting
box. Also, Spring peepers{frogs} in full chorus. (report from Richard Spedding).
- 4/1/99 -- Westminster area
- Birds observed on April 1 st (no fooling!) in Westminster included the
tufted duck (Round
Meadow Pond), 7 hooded mergansers, 11 common mergansers, 41 ring-necked ducks,
2 lesser scaup, 41 common goldeneyes, 10 buffleheads, 1 common loon, 2
phoebes, 7 tree swallows, 1 flicker, and 2 bluebirds.
Also, a yellow-bellied sapsucker was observed in Ashburnham.
(report from Chuck Caron).
For previous sightings, see
March 1999 Archives or
Archive Index