August 2000 Central Mass Bird Sightings

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

8/31/00 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton

At Fisherville late morning I saw 12 Killdeer, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 58 Least Sandpipers, and 15 Semipalmated Sandpipers. At Sterling Peat early afternoon I saw 2 Great Blue Herons, 3 Green Herons, 40 Canada Geese, 98 Blacks and Mallards, 3 Green-winged Teal, 8 Blue-winged Teal, 22 Killdeer and 3 Least Sandpipers. The water level at both places is at its lowest of the summer and there is very good habitat for shorebirds. (report from Bart Kamp).

8/27/00 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester

At the Notre Dame Cemetery Nighthawk watch site tonite were Sharon Hoey; John Liller, Val Miller, Dan Sr., Dan Jr. and Deb Berard; Fran McMenemy and Joan Zumpfe (and us). Nighthawk movement was slight and erratic. The largest numbers were at a distance over Webster Square Plaza. Other birds were seen flying into the city FROM the south. Just as were were leaving a good number flew in from the south right over us. After we broke, Sheila and I drove the legnth of Park Avenue where we found more flying VERY low and actively feeding as well as several groups of swifts going to roost. I have added these numbers to the totals seen from the watch location. Totals for whole evening: Double-Crested Cormorant (1); Osprey (1); Red-Tailed Hawk (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); Chimney Swift (105); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (202); Tree Swallow (6). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/26/00 -- Smith St., Gardner

Hilites amoung 53 species: Green-wing Teal 5; Sharp-shined Hawk 1 Harrassing Jays; Ospery 1 on the move; N. Harrier 1 up high and moving; Solitary Sandpiper 1; Eastern Phoebe 20+; GC Flycatcher 1; House Wren 10+; Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2; N. Parula 1; Magnolia Warb. 7; BT Blue Warb. 2; BT Green Warb. 5+; Wilson's Warb. 1 male; Purple Finch 10 enjoying abundant spruce cones. The few pockets of Warbler activity I ran into were primarily Redstarts and Magnolias. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/25/00 -- High Ridge WMA, WEstminster

An evening nighthawk (singular) watch from the Westmnster end of High Ridge WMA yielded: Common Nighthawk 1; Am. Woodcock 1; Merlin 1 moving SW hard at 7:15pm; Bobolink 22; Magnolia Warbler 1; Scarlet tanager 1; Eastern Phoebe ~25. I ended the evening celebrating (at home)with a Baloga sandwich and glass of generic cola .... thus keeping the "post count" tab to nighthawk ratio right in line with the Mount A folks. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/25/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

Highlights of a partial survey of Broad Meadow Brook between 9:30 AM -11:30 AM from the Dunkirk Ave entrance along the stretch, powerlines and meadow. Turkey Vulture (2); Red-Tailed Hawk (1Ad); Northern Flicker (1); Eastern Phoebe (2); Carolina Wren (2); House Wren (1); Gray Catbird (8); Cedar Waxwing (5); Am.Redstart (1); Common Yellowthroat (2); Field Sparrow (2); Common Grackle (2). There is abundant and beautiful show of late summer/early fall wildflowers: Joe Pye Weed, Goldenrod, Brown-eyed Susans, Queen Anne's Lace and Asters. Birders should be prepared with insect repellant-the moist summer has made the meadow and stretch very hospitable to mosquitoes. Also the trail through the meadow leading back to the stretch is very overgrown and weedy so use caution with respect to footing and prickly briars. (report from Lisa Hennin).

8/25/00 -- Stillwater River, Sterling

A paddle on the Stillwater River produced great blue heron, wood duck, red tailed hawk, crested flycatcher. Highlights of the trip were the many cardinal flowers along the bank, and an encounter with a mammal I seldom see. I saw what looked like a beaver just down stream of where I was; it went into some grassy cover and I could see the grass moving as this rather large animal moved very quickly through the grass, and I drifted to within 10 feet of it; it came out of the grass in a direction straight toward me. It was an otter; I got such a fine look; the closest and best look at an otter I've ever had. (report from Richard Spedding).

8/25/00 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton

A morning check of Fisherville revealed only modest numbers of shorebirds. The area still looks great for Buff-Breasted and Baird's. Great Blue Heron (4); Mute Swan (1); Osprey (1); Killdeer (11); Spotted Sandpiper (5); Least Sandpiper (48); Semipalmated Sandpiper (5); Belted Kingfisher (4: raucous family group); House Wren (4); Carolina Wren (2); Gray Catbird (25); Warbling Vireo (1); C. Yellowthroat (8); E. Towhee (3); Indigo Bunting (1); Rose Breasted Grosbeak (2); Baltimore Oriole (4). BUTTERFLIES: Cabbage White; Pearl Crescent; C. Ringlet; C. BUCKEYE (under power lines: very co-operative). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/24/00 -- Rt. 9, Shrewsbury

Although I couldn't attend the Nighthawk count, I knew it must be a good flight when I had a group of 31 Common Nighthawks drifting over Spag's at 6:00 pm. (see below). (report from Rick Quimby).

8/24/00 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester

At the Notre Dame Cemetery Common Nighthawk watch tonite were: Bart Kamp; Fran McMenemy; Joan Zumpfe; Rick and Barbara Walker and Paul Meleski (and us). Though we got there late, we still had huge numbers of nighthawks. Totals for the evening: Green Heron (1); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (1500+. The reason the number is not more specific has to do with a typical behavior of nighthawks at this spot. Large flocks pass over head, only to return to fly around the city again. Flocks break up, then move off again. generally, by 7;45, the show is over. As far as Fran, Bart and I can estimate, a conservative count would be 1500. We had several flocks of hundreds.); Chimney Swift (300+); Eastern Kingbird (2); Barn Swallow (150+). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/22/00 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

I've been hearing barred owls calling just about every night and great horned owls calling less often, about 1 night in 7. (report from Richard Spedding).

8/22/00 -- Tatnuck Square, Worcester

Tonight from 7:10 until 8:00 I counted 43 Nighthawks flying in a Southernly or Westerly direction. Mostly singles and doubles with one group of fifteen. (report from Peter Morlock).

8/22/00 -- Notre Dame Cemetary, Worcester

A good group assembled tonite at the traditional Notre Dame Cemetary location in the city of Worcester. Present were Bart Kamp, Val Miller, Rick and Barbara Walker and Fran McMenemy. We counted the following in little more than an hour: Red-Tailed Hawk (1); Common Nighthawk (205); Chimney Swift (120+); E. Kingbird (3); Tree Swallow (6); Barn Swallow/swallow sp (85+, with one flock as night fell of by far mostly Barns totaling 70+ birds); C. Starling (several thousands). Note: The big movements of nighthawks are yet to come. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/22/00 -- Tatnuck Square, Worcester

A Merlin was seen well at 7:45 am, flying and also perched in spruces, in the Tatnuck Square area. (report from Howard Shainheit).

8/21/00 -- Assumption College area, Worcester

Tonight between 7 00 and 7 30 we had two groups of C. Nighthawks over our house. The first group of 10 and the second group of about 30. The second group appeared to be gaining altitude, though drifting and circling and heading west. We live up by Assumption College. (report from Simon and Lisa Hennin).

8/21/00 -- Rte 119, Ashburnham

This evening I saw 2 White-winged Crossbills off Rte 119 in Ashburnham. Both were adults, 1 handsome red male and 1 female. I watched both for about 20 minutes. Location: ~2.6 miles north of the Rte 119 and Rte 101 junction. Both were in snags on a marsh about 100 yards beyond (north of) the sign for the Swallow Hill Sportman's Club. There are some Spruce and Hemlocks mixed in with a mojority of hardwoods on the both sides of the road with a healthy amount of cones. I believe there are more dense stands of Spruce/ Hemlock on Mount Watatic that could be harboring more of these handsome little nonmads. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/20/00 -- Fisherville Pond/Northbridge sewer beds, Grafton/Northbridge

We surveyed the north pond at Fisherville and the Northbridge sewer beds. In both cases shorebird numbers were only modest, with no surprises. We did have some movement of landbirds, especially swallows and swifts.
FISHERVILLE POND: Double-Crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (1); Green Heron (3 imm); Mute Swan (1); Wood Duck (4); Osprey (2); Sharp-Shinned Hawk (1ad); Red-Tailed Hawk (2); Killdeer (14); Solitary Sandpiper (1); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Semipalmated Sandpiper (1); Least Sandpiper (37); Chimney Swift (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Tree Swallow (16); Barn Swallow (8); House Wren (1); Gray Catbird (19); C. Yellowthroat (4); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (5); Baltimore Oriole (3).
NORTHBRIDGE SEWER BEDS: Mallard (11); Red-Tailed Hawk (3); Killdeer (1); Solitary Sandpiper (15); Lesser Yellowlegs (2); Least Sandpiper (36); Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (1); Chimney Swift (60+); E. Phoebe (2); Tree Swallow (7); Bank Swallow (2); Cliff Swallow (1); Barn Swallow (70+: mostly juv, many exhausted and resting on ground); House Wren (2); C. Yellowthroat (3); Indigo Bunting (13: 5+ ad males); Chipping Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (13); Red-Winged Blackbird (18). NOTE: 99% of the shorebirds were in one sewer bed.
ALSO: at some nearby ponds in Northbridge: Great Blue Heron (4); Great Egret (1); Canada Goose (65). (report from Mark Lynch/Shiela Carroll).

8/20/00 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester

Counted at Leesville Pond in the early evening : Great Blue Heron (2); Green Heron (3); Black-Crowned Night Heron (3 ad/sub-ad); Mute Swan (1 + 1dead); Wood Duck (28); Mallard (335); Killdeer (1); Belted Kingfisher (2); Carolina Wren (1); Cedar Waxwing (9); Baltimore Oriole (1);
AT NEARBY HOPE CEMETARY: Killdeer (22);
AT NEARBY NOTRE DAME CEMETARY: Chimney Swift (60+). No sign of Common Nighthawks, though some ants were flying. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/19/00 -- Mount Wachusett Communty College, Gardner

Oddly enough when I saw Bart Kamp's post on seeing a Glossy Ibis , south of here, the other day I wondered if it might be the same one that was present this week in Gardner. I drove by the College yesterday (8/18) and did NOT see it , but they were mowing the grass at the college. But today 8-19-00 about 1 PM I drove by and it was still present. Although briefly spooked off by a dog , it did return. One note: this bird is missing a primary on the right wing. Other birds present were 3 Least Sandpipers. Seems very unusual that it would stay this long. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/17/00 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton

Between noon and 2:00 at Fisherville I had 1 GLOSSY IBIS, (it left while I was there), 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, 65 Least Sandpipers, 1 Spotted Sandpiper and 12 Killdeer. (report from Bart Kamp).

8/16/00 -- Mount Wachusett Communty College, Gardner

The Glossy Ibis at Mt Wachusetts Comm College (Gardner) was still present this morning, just to the left (north side) of the main entrance on Green Street. The grass is very wet in this low lying area and the bird appears to be feeding on earth worms. I have only 1 other sighting of Glossy Ibis in the Greater Gardner area, 2 individuals on a small pond in South gardner July 27 of 1998. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/15/00 -- Mount Wachusett Communty College, Gardner

I had the good fortune of finding a single GLOSSY IBIS feeding on the front lawn of Mount Wachusett Communty College in gardner about 2:00 pm. It is activly feeding on some wet grass about 30 feet to the left (north side) of the main entrance (green street). I would not expect this species to stay long , particularly here , I had to yell at a few "goose herders" (aka small male children between the ages of 6 and 12 who enjoy chasing Canada goose flocks on bicycles.) to get off the lawn. The Ibis was still there when I left. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/14/00 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton

At Fisherville Pond this afternoon I had 120 Least Sandpipers, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 6 Spotted Sandpipers, 5 Semi-palmated Sandpipers, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, 7 Semi-palmated Plovers and 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. The rain of last night eliminated about 75% of the mud flats. (report from Bart Kamp).

8/13/00 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston

Fran McMenemy and I did some birding this afternoon in the rain/drizzle. Our main objective was to check on the pair of Common Loons at South Bay on the Wachusett Reservoir. We had discovered them incubating on the platform nest on 8/4. This is the pair that had successfully had one chick on 6/27, only to have it drown during a thunderstorm that afternoon. Fran had seen the chick in the water next to the platform that day. One parent stayed on the nest, apparently incubating another egg, but kept calling to the chick which couldn't get back onto the paltform. The other parent was out in the bay preening, bathing and splashing. It seemed oblivious to what was happening at the nest site. Fran had to leave because of the storm. He returned a couple of hours later and found no chick, but the 2 adult loons were circling the platform and calling. They appeared to be looking for the lost chick.
Well, the good news is that at this late date 8/13, this pair of loons has successfully bred another chick. Fran and I had great looks at the family today. They were hanging out near the islands. we watched them both feed it and saw it on one of its parent's back. It's so tiny. Fran researched how long it takes for a chick to be ready to fly. It's about 12 weeks. That would be mid November, which should be plenty of time before South Bay freezes. Being only one chick, it's going to be fed frequently and may mature more quickly. Fran thinks a successful second brood may be un-precedented. This pair made excellent parents last year and were determined to have a repeat performance. This makes 2 chicks at Wachusett Reservoir. Only one chick has been found so far at Quabbin. WE had no other new or significant sightings today. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

8/13/00 -- Barre Falls Dam/Rutland SP, Barre

It was not a great day to survey birds at Barre Falls Dam/Rutland State Park parcel: gloomy, pretty windy, off and on rain, virtually NO song. You couldn't ask for a more difficult day to look at migrant landbirds, but we gave it a shot anyway. It took a lot of spishing and screech-owling to get birds out in any way shape or form. Birds were very much in small mixed-species pockets, very local. Large stretches of forest held few or no birds. Many warblers were young or in heavy moult. BIRDS: Great Blue Heron (6); Wood Duck (7); Mallard (8); Osprey (1); Chimney Swift (1 migrating w/swallows); Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (1); Downy woodpecker (7); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N. Flicker (1); E. Wood Peewee (19); "Traill's type" empid sp. (1); Least Flycatcher (4); E. Phoebe (16); E. Kingbird (2); Tree Swallow (10: migrating southeast); Barn Swallow (4: migrating SE); Blue Jay (7); A. Crow (1); Black-Capped Chickadee (106: almost all warblers were in the company of a small number of chickadees, or the other way round); Tufted Titmouse (1); Red-Breasted Nuthatch (10); White-Breasted Nuthatch (7); Brown Creeper (3); House Wren (2); Winter Wren (1); Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (1); E. Bluebird (3); Veery (4); Hermit Thrush (16: 1 still singing when it got particularly dark); A. Robin (14); Gray Catbird (39); Cedar Waxwing (56); Blue-Headed Vireo (4: low compared to breeding numbers); Red-Eyed Vireo (16: during BBS, 110+ birds are often counted);
WARBLERS: Blue-Winged (3); Chestnut-Sided (21); Magnolia (9); Black-Throated Blue (3); Black-Throated Green (2: very low compared to breeding numbers); Blackburnian (4); Yellow-Rumped (26); Prairie (2); Pine (50, 30 were in one group); Black and White (12); A. Redstart (13); N. Waterthrush (1); Ovenbird (2: during BBS, 60+ are often recorded. Both birds were together); C. Yellowthroat (26); Canada (6);
Scarlet Tanager (2); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (2); E. Towhee (19); Chipping Sparrow (13); Field Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (5); Swamp Sparrow (2); White-Throated Sparrow (9); Baltimore Oriole (5); Purple Finch (4); A. Goldfinch (26); Evening Grosbeak (1). Numbers of migrants will increase dramatically in this spot by September.
OTHER STUFF: Well, the Swamp Maples are starting to turn. Wildflowers that were out included a great showing of typical late summer blooms: Flat-Topped White Asters ; Joe-Pye Weed; Goldenrod; Touch-Me-Not ect. In slow moving water all the Pickerelweed is in bloom. In one shaded stretch of water there was a striking show of Cardinal Flower complete with a few Ebony Jewelwings, a stunning display of color in the gloom of the day. A nice surprise was a small patch of "blooming" Cottongrass among the Northern Pitcher Plants in one very tiny boggy pond. The fields were alive with odenates, literally thousands, mostly Ruby Meadowflies and similar species. There were also many tenerals. I was a little surprised by this as the weather was so questionable. It was even poorer weather for butterflies, but we managed to spot: Cabbage White; Clouded Sulphur; Orange Sulphur; Pearl Crescent (12); C. Wood Nymph (25); Viceroy (2); Summer Azure (7); Red-Spotted Purple (3); Dun Skipper. At one point the sun came out for all of 5 minutes while we were by a small patch of grass and wildflowers besides one of the road. Immediately the 12 foot by 3 foot patch came alive with Common Ringlets and azures. I imagine if the weather was good, lep numbers would have been astronomical. We found tracks of Moose as well as the tracks of a fawn White-tail following the adult. Many Gray Tree Frogs called in the damp grey forest. Despite the weather, not a bad day. (report from Mark Lynch).

8/12/00 -- Upper Smith Street Marsh, Gardner

This evening there were: Great-Blue Heron 3; Green Heron 2; American Bittern 3; Green-wing Teal 4; Wood Duck ~15; Barred Owl 2. It seems the past 3 times I've visited, the Am. Bitterns flush out of a brushy field that borders the marsh. There was a similar patten this time last year. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/12/00 -- Fisherville/Northbridge/Sterling Peat

A search today for Worcester County shorebirds in the very few spots where they could appear yielded the following totals:
FISHERVILLE POND, GRAFTON (water still low): Double-Crested Cormorant (2); Mute Swan (1); Mallard (2); Turkey Vulture (1); Osprey (1); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); Semipalmated Plover (4); Killdeer (31); Solitary Sandpiper (2); Spotted Sandpiper (5); Least Sandpiper (149); Semipalmated Sandpiper (14); E. Kingbird (3); Tree Swallow (2); Barn Swallow (28); Indigo Bunting (3); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (1). Butterflies: Cabbage White; Orange Sulphur; E. Comma; C. Wood Nymph; E. Tailed Blue; Pearl Crescent; Viceroy; Least Skipper. If water levels stay low here, this looks very promising for Baird's and Buff-Breasted in 2 weeks.
NORTHBRIDGE SEWER BEDS: Mallard (15); A. Black Duck (1); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (2); Solitary Sandpiper (16: THE shorebird of inland sewer beds); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Lesser Yellowlegs (1); Least Sandpiper (10); House Wren (2); Indigo Bunting (4); Red-Winged Blackbird (17).
STERLING PEAT ( water levels were higher, but there is still OK shorebird habitat); Great Blue Heron (2); Snowy Egret (1); Green Heron (3); Canada Goose (19: including one bird suffering from an infected leg due to fishing line being tightly wrapped around its feet. Please, while out birding, if you see tangles of fishing line on the ground, PICK IT UP! waterfowl in particular seem to have a very bad time with this stuff. We tried to capture the goose to bring it to Tufts, but it slunk away out into the water); Wood Duck (7); Mallard (11); HOODED MERGANSER (4 imm); Killdeer (2); Least Sandpiper (20); E. Phoebe (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Tree Swallow (4).
We also checked Wachuset Reservoir (water levels very high, only found a Common Loon, Mute Swan, (12) cormorants and (20+) Ring-Billed Gulls) and Quinapoxet Reservoir (water levels still very high). On the way home, we had (4) Wild Turkeys cross the road in Holden. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/6/00 -- Fisherville Pond/Northbridge sewer beds

We checked these two areas of the Blackstone Valley for shorebirds. Only modest numbers were present.
FISHERVILLE POND (NORTH IMPOUNDMENT): Double-Crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (2); Green Heron (2); Mute Swan (1); Canada Goose (13); Mallard (6); Red-Tailed Hawk (2); Killdeer (7); Semipalmated Plover (1); Spotted Sandpiper (11); Semipalmated Sandpiper (2); Least Sandpiper (50); Chimney Swift (14 drinking on the wing); Kingfisher (1adF w/2 newly fledged young. These young birds were chasing each other and other birds like a Barn Swallow); N. Flicker (5); E. Kingbird (4); Barn Swallow (2); Carolina Wren (1); Gray Catbird (14); Warbling Vireo (2); Yellow Warbler (6); C. Yellowthroat (18); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (4); Indigo Bunting (3); Baltimore Oriole (2)
This time we checked from behind the Riverview Apartments AND we walked down from Rt. 122 under the power lines.
NORTHBRIDGE SEWER BEDS: Great Blue Heron (1); Green-Winged Teal (1); Mallard (11); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); A. Kestrel (1 imm); Killdeer (9); Solitary Sandpiper (20); Spotted Sandpiper (15); Lesser Yellowlegs (1); Least Sandpiper (29); Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (1f); "empid sp." (1: NOT a Least; looked like a "Traill's" type.); E. Phoebe (1); E. Kingbird (3); Bank Swallow (3); Barn Swallow (4); Carolina Wren (1); House Wren (1); Gray Catbird (13); Warbling Vireo (1); Yellow Warbler (7); N. Waterthrush (1); C. Yellowthroat (1); Indigo Bunting (5); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (1); Song Sparrow (26). Remember: things change frequently here not just because of weather and migration, but depending on what sewer beds are being used. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/6/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

Highlights included: Great Blue Heron (2 - flyovers); Red-tailed Hawk (1); NO RAILS (water levels probably forced them out); Willow Flycatcher (1); Eastern Phoebe (1); Eastern Kingbird (4); Warbling Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (4); Carolina Wren (1); House Wren (3); Eastern Bluebird (3 - male w/ 2 immatures); Cedar Waxwing (6); Yellow Warbler (3); Black-and-white Warbler (1); Common Yellowthroat (3); Eastern Towhee (11). Also: Common Wood-Nymph (1), Viceroy (1), Aphrodite Fritillary (1 - excellent views) (report from John Liller).

8/4/00 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner

I took a walk into the Upper marsh at high ridge wma tonite 8-4-00 in hopes of picking up a local BC Night heron. While I saw NO Night herons I did see 2 American bitterns , 1 Green heron and only 2 or 3 great blue herons. Last year at this time there were over 40 Great Blues at the marsh. Water levels are much higher than last and I suspect the aquatic life (i.e. food) less concentrated in the water here. Of course biting insects are doing well. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/3/00 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Today at noon there were 2 imm Black-crowned Night Herons. Last night (8/2/00) on a Forbush Bird Club walk there were (fide Howard Shainheit) 3 Black-crowned Night Herons and 1 Great Egret. (report from Rick Quimby).

8/2/00 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling

This evening I stopped by the "Sterling Peat" ponds. The following were seen: Great Egret 1; Snowy Egret 1; Green heron 2 (1 ad , 1 imm.); Great Blue Heron 1; Least Sandpiper ~12; Spotted Sandpiper 2; Solitary Sandpiper 2; Greater Yellowlegs 1; Belted Kingfisher 1. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/2/00 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton

The water at Fisherville is down again. Late this afternoon I had 1 Short-billed Dowitcher, 20 Semi-palmated Plovers, 20-25 Semi-palmated Sandpipers, 30-35 Least Sandpipers, only 3 Killdeer and 2 Spotted Sandpipers. Fran McMenemy arrived and he found a Baird's Sandpiper. A short time later a Peregrine flew over flushing all the birds. The Baird's, the Dowitcher and half the Plovers did not return. (report from Bart Kamp).

For previous sightings, see July 2000 Archives or Archive Index