August 2001 Central Mass Bird Sightings

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

8/31/01 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
Highlights of birds seen mid-morning at Bolton Flats include Green Heron 1, Double-crested Cormorant 2, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Warbling Vireo 2 (still singing), Yellow Warbler 1, Yellowthroat 1 and Bobolink 2. What I found most striking this morning was the complete lack of sparrows. I only saw 2 Song Sparrows and no other species. (report from Chuck Caron).

8/30/01 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
Hilites from a walk into High Ridge WMA this morning: Great Blue Heron 5+; Green heron 4; American bittern 5; Belted Kingfisher 4; Greater Yellowlegs 1 heard calling; Solitary Sandpiper 2; Balt Oriole 3; Bobolink 10; R-breasted grosbeak 3; Purple Finch 2. I had ridiculously good looks at one of the Bitterns at point blank range, the "bug-eyed" bowling pin was "froze" rightin front of me... its dialated yellow eyes gleaming in the sun. One of the more distant birds still had a little bit of down on the head. Another great site was 382 dew covered spider webs glimmering in the marsh, I decided to count them. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/28/01 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
Today was the day for flying ants in Worcester. Nighthawks too. From Notre Dame Cemetery 934 Nighthawks were counted. The largest feeding group consisted of about 300 birds. (report from Bart Kamp).

8/28/01 -- Worcester airport, Leicester
We went to the Rt. 56 overlook of Worcester Airport this evening to see if nighthawks were flying. A front with rain was rapidly approaching. We had one flock of 151 birds rapidly moving to the south and low. Also seen: Cooper's Hawk (1ad went to roost right in front of us); Wild Turkeys (5 on the runway); Bobolink (3 imm. landing in field in front of us); E. Meadowlark (2); C. Grackle (400+); (report from Mark Lynch).

8/28/01 -- Moose Brook Valley, Hardwick
I spent two hours this evening (5:30-7:30) atop Quabbin Shaft 10 with highlights of Double-crested Cormorant (1 juv on pond since 8/25), Great Blue Heron(4), Hooded Merganser(2), Barred Owl(1), Common Nighthawk(35), Belted Kingfisher(1), Eastern Wood Pewee(4), Great Crested Flycatcher(1), Wood Thrush(4), Scarlet Tanager(1), and Baltimore Oriole(1). (report from Chris Buelow)
8/27/01 -- Rt. 20, Auburn
I had an amazing sighting of nighthawks while I was driving to Mark Lynch's bird class. It was 6:45 pm (Monday night), and they were all the way from Charlton to Auburn. I started to see them at the intersection of Rt 20 and Rt 52, where they seemed to be flying West, or possbily NW??? (I can't understand that). When I approached the Harley Davidson dealership on Rt. 20 in Auburn (near Ronnie's), they seemed to be flying to the left, westward. When I approached BJ's, I was fortunate to be at a stop light, and they seemed to be travelling away from me toward the left side of my car and toward Charlton, which is SW, I believe?
The numbers were breathtaking. At any moment, no matter where I was, there seemed to be at least 30-40 or so above me. I would estimate that I saw a minimum of 300 birds, possibly up to 800, in that short drive (may be more? I was never good at counting moving objects, and tend to count on the very conservative side). (report from Donna Blain, Woodstock, CT).

8/27/01 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
A great deal of exposed mud flats are still present at Sterling Peat, though few shore birds were present. Killdeer(10), Solitary Sandpiper(1), Spotted Sandpiper(1) and several peeps were present on Sunday (8/26) AM. On Monday (8/27) AM as I arrived a Cooper's Hawk (imm.) slowly glided across the pond before perching in a tree and scattering all the birds feeding on the flats. On Sunday AM I found a Hooded Merganser (imm.) and on Mon AM a Pied-billed Grebe in the pond. (report from Bob Ricci).

8/26/01 -- Mulberry St., Leicester
We counted 100 Common Nighthawks fly over between 6:00 PM-7:30 PM. Most of which flew directly overhead. We were located near Gate 23 of Worcester Airport at west end.
Also, at Howe Pond, Millbury, in the late AM we found Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, DC Comorants 2, Least Sandpipers 11, Semipalmated Sandpipers 3, Lesser Yellowlegs 2, & Belted Kingfisher. (report from Deb & Dan Berard).

8/26/01 -- Providence RI
In an attempt to try to learn how Common Nighthawks migrate through the Blackstone Corridor, Sheila and I hit Providence this afternoon starting about 5:30PM.
SEEKONK RIVER: water high, but receeding. Extremely windy too, which made me wonder what the boat trip out to the canyon was going to be like tonite. I hope things calmed down. In this mile+ stretch of river: Double-crested Cormorant (97); Great Blue Heron (9); Great Egret (20); Snowy Egret (5); Black-crowned Night Heron (6imm+1ad); Mute Swan (6); Mallard (58); A. Black Duck (1); Laughing Gull (24); Common Tern (94: large flocks flying up and down the river, actively feeding); Forster's Tern (3 minimum); Tree Swallow (60+).
INDIA POINT: viewed from atop the bike path parking lot in E. Providence. Great Blue Heron (2); Great Egret (1); Black-crowned Night Heron (5); Turkey Vulture (flock of 20 west of downtown Providence); Osprey (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Peregrine Falcon (4, at least 2 of which were imm. These birds put on an amazing show, diving at each other and chasing each other all over the Providence skyline and then down very low all over the inner harbor. One perched atop the right-most of the three tall smoke stacks and seemed to be surveying it's world below.) A large flock of hundreds of gulls was perched on the waste area below the cliff. I estimated: Ring-billed Gull (30+); Herring Gull (180++); Great Black-backed Gull (60++); As the light started to get low, these all took off and headed south. Laughing Gull (125+ large flocks of mostly juv. birds were in the sky over the city and the upper harbor. Eventually they retreated south); Common Tern (1 flock of 30); Chimney Swift (44 migrating); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (10 migrating south along the western shore of Providence River: Not many by Worcester standards);
On the way home, north on Rt. 146, on a whim, we hit the parking lot of the Lincoln Mall (just west of 146) and in 15 minutes had (41) COMMON NIGHTHAWKS. Most were heading SW. In N. Smithfield right on Rt. 146, we had (1) additional nighthawk. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/26/01 -- Kettlebrook Reservoir#4, Paxton
We spent the early morning surveying (with needed permit, otherwise these reserviors are STRICTLY OFF LIMITS) Kettlebrook Reservoir #4 of the City Of Worcester water supply. Though water levels were low and there was some very decent muddy edges, there were very few shorebirds. However, there was a very nice number and assortment of neotropical migrants present working the sunny forest edges in mixed flocks, attesting to the importance these small reservoirs have as parcels of preserved land that migrants can use for power feeding prior to migration.
Mallard (6); HOODED MERGANSER (9 imm); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Solitary Sandpiper (2); Spotted Sandpiper (5); Ring-billed Gull (1); Mourning Dove (3); Belted Kingfisher (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (10); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N. Flicker (2); E. Wood Peewee (8: some still calling); "empid sp." (9: most, if not all, probably Leasts); Least Flycatcher (1 still calling); Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1); E. Phoebe (4); Tree Swallow (migrating flock of 18); Barn Swallow (migrating flock of 27); [We watched these swallows descend to the reservior, drink on the wing, bathe a bit, hunt some flying insects and then they were on their way south.] Blue Jay (8); A. Crow (3); Black-capped Chickadee (78); Tufted Titmouse (15); Red-breasted Nuthatch (10); White-breasted Nuthatch (12); Veery (1); Wood Thrush (1); A. Robin (10); Gray Catbird (17); Cedar Waxwing (14); Blue-headed Vireo (2); Warbling Vireo (3); Red-eyed Vireo (12); Scarlet Tanager (2); E. Towhee (4); Song Sparrow (8); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Purple Finch (2); House Finch (3); A. Goldfinch (8); Bobolink (8 overhead); Red-winged Blackbird (8); C. Grackle (1); Baltimore Oriole (1);
Leps included: Clouded Sulphur (1); Red Admiral (1); C. Ringlet (12). many Aeshna sp. of odes as well as meadowfly sp. Blooms included all those typical of early fall: many asters, Joe Pye Weed, et. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/25/01 -- Quabbin Park, southern end of Quabbin Reservoir
Well, you couldn't have asked for a better day: lots of good birds and simply amazing weather. This class trip actually started at the small marsh on Route 9 where we had herons and ducks. We definitely had hawk movement as well as some migratory movements of flycatchers, swallows, warblers and vireos.
LIST: Double-crested Cormorant (flock of 50 migrating south southwest); Great Blue Heron (1); Green Heron (4); Canada Goose (70); Wood Duck (7: including 2 ducklings); HOODED MERGANSER (1imm); Turkey Vulture (23); Sharp-shinned Hawk (6); Broad-winged Hawk (32: it was VERY tough keeping track of these birds, as some were circling back); Red-tailed Hawk (11); A. Kestrel (1imm); Killdeer (1); Ring-billed Gull (3); Rock Dove: flock of ~15 "Racing Pigeons"; Mourning Dove (3); Chimney Swift (8); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (4); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (11); Hairy Woodpecker (3); N. Flicker (3); E. Wood Peewee (14: some still calling); "empid sp." (8: most if not all, looked like Leasts); "Traill's" type (1); Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1); E. Phoebe (16); E. Kingbird (flock of 3 migrating); Tree Swallow (195 migrating); Blue Jay (18); A. Crow (16); C. Raven (1); Black-capped Chickadee (78); Tufted Titmouse (21); Red-breasted Nuthatch (7); White-breasted Nuthatch (17); Brown Creeper (1); House Wren (4); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (4); E. Bluebird (14); Veery (1); A. Robin (22); Cedar Waxwing (7); Gray Catbird (13); N. Mockingbird (4); Warbling Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (69: definite movement); Scarlet Tanager (2); N. Cardinal (2); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); E. Towhee (3); Chipping Sparow (2: low); Song Sparrow (2); Bobolink (1); Baltimore Oriole (4); A. Goldfinch (28);
VERTS: Beaver Dam and lodge; Pickerel Frog; E. Painted Turtle. LEPS: Cabbage White (3); Clouded Sulphur (4: including a pair mating that stayed together while flying); Common Ringlet (10+); Red Admiral (1); Common Wood Nymph (6); Monarch caterpillar (4); Peck's Skipper (~20); Tawny-edged Skipper (1). OTHER INVERTS: loads of odes, most Aeshna sp; and meadowfly sp; Praying Mantis (3); many grasshoppers. PLANTS: GIANT PUFFBALL, Indian Pipe. Great Day afield!!!!! (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/25/01 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
The class re-convened here (BTW: part of the Blackstone Corridor) at 5PM. Things did not look good until close to 6, when good numbers of nighthawks were seen on the move. At first many were heading south quickly well to the west over Denny Hill et. Later, we had groups over Pachachoag Hill and several really amazing flocks right overhead. We also kept a count of most other species. HIghlights: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (3); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-Tailed Hawk (3: had an adult and imm. perched next to each other in a pine); Killdeer (flock of 7 landing at Hope Cemetery); Solitary Sandpiper (1); CHIMNEY SWIFT (65); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (604); E. Phoebe (1); E. Kingbird (1); Tree Swallow (1); Barn Swallow (4); Gray catbird (2); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); C. Grackle (29); Baltimore Oriole (2). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/24/01 -- High Ridge WMA, Westminster
Migrant Common Nighthawks passing over the Westminster side of High Ridge WMA between 5:45 and 7:30PM this evening totaled 136. Most passing in small groups of 5 to 20 birds moving quickly towad the southwest. A few other species seen were 1 Osprey, 1 Shap-shinned Hawk , Am. Kestrel , 25+ Chimney Swifts and dozens of large dragonflies up high. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/23/01 -- Gardner ponds
This evening I "hit" a few ponds in town in search of shorebirds and Gardner Airport for highthawks , the following were the hilites:
Parker's Pond: Killdeer 12; Least Sandpiper 14; Solitary Sandpiper 3; Spotted Sandpiper 2;
Kendall Pond: Killdeer 21; Least Sandpiper 1; Solitary Sandpiper 7;
And NO nighthawks were seen anywhere, in my travels. At the Gardner Airport I spotted a large "ribbon" of migrating birds up very high heading East ward. There were perhaps 200-300 birds in the flock in a "V" but constantly changing pattern , much like migrant Geese but smaller with more rapid wing beats.... shorebirds , small waterfowl (teal) , they didn't appear to have the jiz of cormorants but they were wayy up there. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/22/01 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
This evening I spent a few hours looking over the Smith Street marsh @ High Ridge WMA in Gardner. It was great evening to see a lot while looking for nothing in particular. The following are the hilites: Great Blue Heron ~10; Green Heron 3; Blk-crn Nightheron 2 both imm.; Am. bittern 4; Black Duck 3; Green-wing teal 13; Wood Duck 2; Hooded Merganser 4; Least Sandpiper ~15; Solitary Sandpiper 3; Pectoral Sandpiper 1; Killdeer 3; Northern Harrier 1 imm.; Great Horned Owl 1. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/20/01 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
I had a very enjoyable evening a the Smith Street marsh at High Ridge WMA in Gardner: Great Blue Heron 8; American Bittern 6; Black Crown Night-heron 3; Green Heron 1; Hooded Merganser 3.
The 6 Am. Bitterns were seen flying out of the marsh onto the hill side(perhaps to roost) at dusk, these were seen well and not to be confused with the nightherons. I wonder if this was a family group? The back pattern seemed more defined on at least one of the bitterns. A bonus was a bull Moose on the far side (south west) of the marsh, perhaps a young bull as it did not have a massive rack. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/19/01 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
Sunday (8/19) evening [after 6:00 pm] with Fran McMenemy from Notre Dame Cemetery we saw 60+ Nighthawks. He and Joan saw 45 there Saturday evening. East of the area there was a swirling mass of 30-40 Nighthawks along with Ring-billed Gulls in a feeding frenzy. The ants are busy making their holes wider. Fran McMenemy was doing some yard work and uncovered an ants' nest full of winged ants. Some flying ants were attracted to my porch light last night. (report from Bart Kamp).

8/19/01 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
Evening -- No signs of nighthawks yet (from 5:30-6:00 pm). [ed. note: Mark left just before Fran et al. arrived, and searched quite thoroughly]. At the oxbow of the river, across from Hadwin park there were some passerines: Great Blue Heron (1); Green Heron (1); Hooded Merganser (1imm); "empid sp" (3: looked like Leasts); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); E. Kingbird (4); A. Robin (70+ many imm); Gray Catbird (30+); Warbling Vireo (2); Yellow Warbler (1); A. Redstart (2); C. Yellowthroat (2); Baltimore Oriole (6).
Across the street at Hope Cemetery, the Killdeer are starting to build. We counted 16. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/19/01 -- Maple Street, West Boylston
Around 1 pm there was a kettle of 5 Broad-winged Hawks over my yard, with at least one of them calling repeatedly. (report from Rick Quimby).

8/19/01 -- Providence, RI
Feeling still under the weather, but still needing to do some monitoring, we hit the southern end of the BLACKSTONE CORRIDOR this AM at India Point and the northern tip of Providence Harbor, viewing the area from one vantage point from the bike path parking lot atop the cliff. This is a very urban cul-de-sac of the harbor, not a place you would expect numbers of birds. BUT: we found good numbers of Common Terns and Laughing Gulls were moving up into the Seekonk River. There were also a very good number of shorebirds roosting on the broad dirt waste area directly below this vantage point. Normally we only get a few, if any, shorebirds here. The tide was rapidly coming in. Many of the shorebirds left while we were there.
Double Crested Cormorant ( 55: decided movement up into the Seekonk River); Great Blue Heron (6); Great Egret (10); Snowy Egret (2); Black-crowned Night Heron (8ad+7imm. It's always amazing watching these birds perch on the several ruins of the docks et. in this area and fish); Mute Swan (5ad , including a pair mating, and 3imm); Canada Goose (26); Mallard (9); Killdeer (2); Semipalmated Plover (290+); Black-bellied Plover (1); Greater Yellowlegs (4); White-rumped Sandpiper (1); Least Sandpiper (200+: many of these left while we were there); Semipalmated Sandpiper (60+ ditto); "calidrid sp": hundreds); Laughing Gull (87+++); Common Tern (172: we watched flocks fly up from the southern areas of Providence Harbor, and perhaps Narragansett Bay, and hit India Point and rapidly gain altitude. Some flew flocks flew back and forth over Providence and India Point at some height, some headed east and appeared to leave, some headed up into the Seekonk and some headed back south. Most of the birds were adults, some in basic pl., with some birds of the year too. Normally there are always just a few Common Terns in this area during the breeding season.); Forster's Tern (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Tree Swallow (2); N. Rough-winged Swallow (4 heading north); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Baltimore Oriole (4 heading north).
Then, at the nearby Seekonk River at high tide: Double-crested Cormorant (76: feeding frenzy at the north end of river where it narrows in Pawtucket); Great Blue Heron (9); Great Egret (8); Snowy Egret (1); Black-crowned Night Heron (2imm); Mute Swan (12ad); Mallard (54); Osprey (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Laughing Gull (34 at north end of river feeding); Common Tern (82 at north end of river feeding furiously. As the tide reached high, they headed south along the river in small flocks); Forster's Tern (4: nice views); Belted Kingfisher (4); Tree Swallow (31); N. Rough-winged Swallow (1).
We briefly stopped at Durfee Hill WMA in Glocester and walked to the edge of the now very drained pond. Birds seen included: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (1); Killdeer (1); Least Sandpiper (12); E. Phoebe (12: everywhere); There was also a great ode and butterfly show. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/19/01 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
The water level is down at Sterling Peat exposing a wide strip of mud flat. Among the birds seen were: Great Blue Heron (1), Green Heron (1 ad, 1 imm), Greater Yellowlegs (2), Least Sandpipers (6), Killdeer (15), Pectoral Sandpiper (1), Semipalmated Plover (1), Tree Swallow (15), Mallards and Blacks (75+), Belted Kingfisher (2), Wood Ducks (2), Red-tailed Hawk (1). (report from Bob Ricci)

8/18/01 -- Fisherville Pond/Lessville Pond, Grafton/Worcester
FISHERVILLE POND, Grafton first thing in the morning: Water levels were high and there were no shorebirds. Birds seen included: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Osprey (1); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Belted Kingfisher (2).
Later, at LEESVILLE POND, Worcester: Great Blue Heron (3); Green Heron (1); Wood Duck (21 plus 1f w/5 new ducklings); Mallard (224); A. Black Duck (3); E. Phoebe (6). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/17/01 -- Route 122, Grafton
I drove down Route 122 this evening stopping at the various bodies of water and saw the following: At Lake Ripple in Grafton there was a pair of Swans with 6 almost full grown cignets; At Fisherville there were 25 Least Sandpipers, 6 Semi-palmated Sandpipers and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper; At the Northbridge filters beds there were 3 Semi-palmated Plovers, 71 Killdeer, 5 Spotted Sandpipers, 145 Least Sandpipers and 22 Solitary Sandpipers, all in the same filter bed; at Rice City Pond in Uxbridge there were 2 Great Egrets. (report from Bart Kamp).

8/14/01 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Resident birds soaring at Barre Falls between 1 PM and 2 PM today were 1 Cooper's Hawk, 1 Broad-winged Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks and 12 Ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

8/12/01 -- Reservoirs around Worcester
Today we birded (or attempted to bird) several areas around the city. Rain was a constant problem, and even when it stopped, just walking through grass and brush got you soaked from head to toe. We did not attempt any complete surveys, the weather was just too unpredictable:
WACHUSET RESERVIOR: just a few stops: Common Loon (9+1juv); Double-crested Cormorant (25); Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (30); BONAPARTE'S GULL (1adS, South Bay); Killdeer (flock of 11 at Clinton HS); Tree Swallow (1); Barn Swallow (14);
KETTLEBROOK RESERVOIR #4: east end ONLY. Birded with the necessary permit. Nice edge in places despite rains. Double-crested Cormorant (1); Canada Goose (1); Wood Duck (4imm); Mallard (2); HOODED MERGANSER (11 newly fledged imm); Killdeer (2); Spotted Sandpiper (4); Least Sandpiper (4);
EAGLE LAKE, HOLDEN: Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (5); Wood Duck (21); Tree Swallow (200+); N. Rough-winged Swallow (1); Barn Swallow (50+);
QUINAPAUXET RESERVOIR: birded with the necessary permit. After walking in just one trail to overlook the north half, we were soaked and left for home. Water levels just starting to show a decent edge. Double-crested Cormorant (4); Great Blue Heron (8); Canada Goose (1); Killdeer (8); Greater Yellowlegs (6); Spotted Sandpiper (6); Solitary Sandpiper (3); Least Sandpiper (9); Ring-billed Gull (5); Herring Gull (6); Belted Kingfisher (1); E. Wood Peewee (2:the only "singing" birds); Tree Swallow (5); Barn Swallow (4); Black-thoated Green Warbler (4); Baltimore Oriole (2); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/11/01 -- filter beds, Northbridge
On Friday (8/10) and Saturday (8/11) evenings at the Northbridge filter beds there were 5 Semi-palmated plovers, 82 Killdeer, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, 2 Semi-palmated sandpipers, 91 Least Sandpipers and 38 Solitary Sandpipers. (report from Bart Kamp).

8/11/01 -- southern end of Blackstone Corridor
We hit the area from India Point through the Seekonk River in Providence today, the terminus of the Blackstone National Corridor. Tide was coming in quickly. Despite it being very urban and only a bit more than a mile, we had the following: Double-crested Cormorant (89); Great Blue Heron (10); Great Egret (22 all along the short span of the Seekonk River); Snowy Egret (16); Black-crowned Night Heron (7ad); Mute Swan (6ad+1imm); Canada Goose (6); Brant (2); Mallard (214); A. Black Duck (6); Turkey Vulture (2); Osprey (5); Red-tailed Hawk (2ad+1imm); Greater Yellowlegs (5); Least Sandpiper (3: very low, we had missed the tide); Spotted Sandpiper (3); Laughing Gull (2adS); Common Tern (2adS); Belted Kingfisher (6); Cliff Swallow (1); N. Rough-winged Swallow (1); Tree Swallow (20+); Barn Swallow (30+); Baltimore Oriole (7 flying north).
Later, at Sneetch Pond in Cumberland, we had a Carolina Wren feeding a young Brown-headed Cowbird. (report from Mark Lynch).

8/7/01 -- Tatnuck Square area, Worcester
Two oddities from my back deck at about 7:45 -- two Common Nighthawks, an early sighting for me, and two Great Egrets, a first for me from my yard. The egrets were flying roughly east to west; they were seen briefly, but clearly enough so that they immediately registered as large, white egrets with the same sort of slow wing beat as Great Blues. There was no black visible underneath...and then they were gone. They had to be Greats? (report from Howard Shainheit).

8/6/01 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
This evening I spent about an hour looking over the Smith Street marsh at High Ridge WMA. The following are the hilites: American Bittern 1; Great Blue Heron 5; Solitary Sandpiper 3 at least; Spotted Sandpiper 1; Cliff Swallow 1. The water level in the marsh is current as low as I have ever seen it , at least since it became flooded by Beaver activity several years back. There is probably more shorebirds out there hidden by vegetation(no to mention low the low light of dusk). The Bittern was in thick brush a few hindred feet from the marsh, it seems this time of year I often flush one or two from this area. (report from Tom Pirro).

8/5/02 -- Ware River Watershed
We spent the morning and a bit of the afternoon driving just SOME of the dirt roads in the Ware River watershed area that includes Barre Falls Dam, Rutland SP et. and is managed by A.C.E. and M.D.C. Birdsong has dropped off dramatically, only some Red-eyed Vireos and Hermit Thrushes and a handfull of BT Greens were still singing. Many flycatchers, except phoebes, were also still "singing". Most birds are off their breeding territories, and many were found in small multi-species "flocks". There would be a lot of area covered in between groups of birds, which is typical for fall migration in these parts. Birds for the most part had to be "spished" or "screech-owled" out, and even then, it was very tough birding. I would guess that about 60%+ of the birds we saw were newly fledged birds of the year. Many others were moulting. It was one very ratty-looking group of birds. The morning was overcast and somewhat foggy, when it finally cleared in late morning, it downright hot and humid. Biting insects were still fierce.
Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (3); Canada Goose (1: note: waterfowl numbers here have been very low all year) Sharp-shinned Hawk (2imm); N. GOSHAWK (1ad that flew from the road with what looked like a grouse in it's talons and another juv/imm that perched atop a dead tree close to us. Any day you get two good looks at two differnet Gos is a good day afield); Red-shouldered Hawk (1 soaring); Broad-winged Hawk (2); Ruffed Grouse (1); A. Woodcock (1 accomodating bird that crossed the dirt road right in front of us and proceeded to saunter down alongside the road); Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1); Black-billed Cuckoo (3: Note: we had found no cuckoos here during the BBS and other surveys THIS YEAR, though they have bred (usually Black-billed only) in the past); Chimney Swift (3 over the forest); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (25); Hairy Woodpecker (7); Pileated Woodpecker (family group of 4); E. Wood Peewee (13); Least Flycatcher (13); ACADIAN FLYCATCHER (1); Alder Flycatcher (7); E. Phoebe (26); E. Kingbird (17); Tree Swallow (330); Barn Swallow (23); Blue Jay (39); A. Crow (2); C. Raven (1); Black-capped Chickadee (251: many juvs); Tufted Titmouse (11); Red-breasted Nuthatch (46); White-breasted Nuthtach (29); Brown Creeper (2); Winter Wren (1); House Wren (17); Golden-crowned Kinglet (8); E. Bluebird (flock of 7); Veery (1: VERY low compared to breeding bird numbers); Hermit Thrush (76); Wood Thrush (1); A. Robin (100); Gray Catbird (58); Cedar Waxwing (77); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Blue-headed Vireo (10); Warbling Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (78); Scarlet Tanager (21); E. Towhee (25); Chipping Sparrow (29); Field Sparrow (7); Song Sparrow (28); Swamp Sparrow (6); White-throated Sparrow (8); N. CARDINAL (4: I know this is a common bird.....BUT NOT HERE IN DEEP WOODS. I don't get them as breeders in the areas I regularly check and almost all of them today were in deep mixed woods. Post-breeding wandering?); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (9); Indigo Bunting (1); Bobolink (8); Red-winged Blackbird (12); C. Grackle (8); Blatimore Oriole (6); A. Goldfinch (62); Evening Grosbeak (3);
Lots of herps (got to help a very young Snapping Turtle across the road) and lots of butterflies once the sun came out. An astoudning number of odes too. Lots of wildflowers, probably the most interesting being seeing Cotton Grass "blooming" and finding a great patch of Yellow/Northern False Foxglove at the base of a group of oaks (it is somewhat parasitic to oak roots). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/5/01 -- Kettlebrook Reservoir, Paxton
We did quick stop at Kettlebrook Reservoir (OFF LIMITS WITHOUT PERMIT!) in Paxton on our way home from the Ware River Watershed, looking from just one vantage point off the main road. Common Loon (1ad); Double-crested Cormorant (1); Canada Goose (9); HOODED MERGANSER (6 juveniles together); Ring-billed Gull (1); Spotted Sandpiper (1). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/4/01 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
I recorded the following highlights at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Worcester) before the deluge this morning: Cooper's Hawk (1 female); Eastern Wood-Pewee (2); Eastern Kingbird (2); Carolina Wren (1); Wood Thrush (1); Cedar Waxwing (4); Common Yellowthroat (2); Eastern Towhee (6); Field Sparrow (3); Song Sparrow (3); Baltimore Oriole (1). (report from John Liller).

8/4/01 -- Providence, RI
We got in just two hours of birding the southern terminus of the Blackstone Corridor before the deluges and lightning started. Basically we did the mile or so between India Point and the Seekonk River. Double-crested Cormorant (46); Great Blue Heron (9); Great Egret (15: most along the Seekonk); Snowy Egret (5); Black-crowned Night Heron (2ad+8imm. I believe this number is low as many more are probably hidden in the trees along the Seekonk River); Mute Swan (7); Canada Goose (25); Brant (2: present all summer); Mallard (90+5 ducklings); A. Black Duck (2); Osprey (2); Killdeer (1); Semipalmated Plover (11); Least Sandpiper (96); Spotted Sandpiper (1); {NOTE: the river was VERY high due to last night's rain and there would have been more shorebirds if the water had not been so high. Almost all shorebirds were seen flying overhead north.} Laughing Gull (2adS: up into the Seekonk River); Common Tern (7: again we watched them fly far upriver into the Blackstone River proper). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/1/01 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
This afternoon at Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton on the island amongst the gulls were 2 adult Bonaparte's Gulls. (report from Bart Kamp).

For previous sightings, see July 2001 Archives or Archive Index