August 2008 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.

Bird News:

August/September -- Volunteer opportunities for counting swans, and public library program on birding
8/24/08 -- WICN radio interview on "The Life of the Skies" with author JOANTHAN ROSEN
ONGOING -- Asian Longhorned Beetle Information
9/14/08 -- WICN radio interview on "The world's rarest bird" with Science writer ALVIN POWELL

Bird Sightings:

8/31/08 -- Northfield

We spent the morning birding in NORTHFIELD, spending most of our time in HELL'S KITCHEN and SATAN'S KINGDOM WMA. Passerine migrants were in very short supply, but the wooded marshes had decent numbers of Woodies and some herons. Complete list: Great Blue Heron (2); Green Heron (3); Turkey Vulture (1); Wood Duck (47); Broad-winged Hawk (1 imm perched on phone lines); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Solitary Sandpiper (1); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (3); Belted Kingfisher (6); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (4); OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (1: this spot is very reliable spring and fall for this species); Eastern Wood Peewee (6: still calling); "Traill's type" empid (1); Eastern Phoebe (2); Blue-headed Vireo (2); Red-eyed Vireo (4); Blue Jay (17); A Crow (16); Carolina Wren (1); Black-capped Chickadee (46); Tufted Titmouse (4); White-breasted Nuthatch (11); Eastern Bluebird (11); Hermit Thrush (2); Gray Catbird (11); Cedar Waxwing (6); Black-throated Green Warbler (6); A Redstart (1 still in full song); Common Yellowthroat (2); Eastern Towhee (3); Chipping Sparrow (5); Savannah Sparrow (2); Swamp Sparrow (3); N Cardinal (6); A Goldfinch (13);

A brief stop by the Northfield sod farms produced no shorebird sightings: we need a soaking rain and some sod cut. However, in a few weedy patches nearby we had: Turkey Vulture (3); Bald Eagle (1imm); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Eastern Phoebe (4); Eastern Kingbird (5); Eastern Bluebird (25+); Gray Catbird (4); Yellow Warbler (6); C Yellowthroat (3); Chipping Sparrow (15+); Savannah Sparrow (16); Song Sparrow (12); Indigo Bunting (5); Bobolink (30+); PLUS: on the way home we stopped by the Barre Falls Dam Hawkwatch. The stalwart and dedicated crew there had only a few hawks passing (Merlin, Broad-wing, Red-tailed Hawk immatures, the usual TVs), but hawk migration has definitely started. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/31/08 -- Leicester

We spent from 5PM to 6:30 birding around LEICESTER looking for nighthawks. We started at the Rt.56 airport overlook and spent 30 minutes there and saw only (1); nighthawk. We decided to check other spots for nighthawks and drove all around STYLES RESERVOIR (no luck); and made several other stops including a great overlook behind the HILLCREST GOLF COURSE /FUNCTION ROOM on Rt. 56 south of Rt. 9. This overlook rivals the view from the airport overlook and includes good views into the city AND views all the way to BOSTON. But: no nighthawks. We returned to the airport overlook: still no nighthawks and headed to Mulberry Street, where we found the (presumably) same (2) UPLAND SANDPIPERS. This time one bird was on the small spur road and the other was in the mown grass well to the left of the spur road. Killdeer were everywhere. We ended up at the main terminal overlooking the runways where we still had NO nighthawks, but did have additional Killdeer and an adult Peregrine Falcon strafing the runway, heading towards the Uplands. Other interesting birds seen included Osprey (1); A Kestrel (4); E Phoebe (2); Bobolink (14). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/30/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston/Sterling

While birding around the Wachusett Reservoir IBA this afternoon I came accross 2 BLACK TERNS. One was seen from Scar Hill Bluff swooping for insects over the open water. 3 hours later, from Gate 37 in Sterling were 2 more Black Terns foraging together near the area known as Prescott Cove. It's likely that one of those two was the one I saw before. I also counted 7 Common Loons, one of which was not in breeding plumage but too far to tell whether it was the young from the successful nest monitored and reported by Fran McMenemy in late July. Full report on MASSBIRD. Highlights: Wood Duck (8);, Hooded Merganser (1);, Common Merganser (10, one raft);, Common Loon (7, see above);, Double-crested Cormorant (18);, Great Blue Heron (3);, Green Heron (1);, Red-tailed Hawk (4);, American Kestrel (1, m);, Killdeer (3);, Spotted Sandpiper (2);, Solitary Sandpiper (2);, Ring-billed Gull (43);, Herring Gull (2);, Black Tern (2, non-breeding plumage);, Belted Kingfisher (2);, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1);, Eastern Bluebird (3);, Brown Thrasher (2). (report from Kevin Bourinot).

8/30/08 -- Rt. 56 airport overlook, Leicester

We spent from 5PM to 6:30PM nighthawk watching from the Rt. 56 overlook of Worcester Airport. Initially it was completely overcast, but rapidly began to clear from the west, so that by the time we left it was only far to the east that was covered with clouds. It was also the first night we saw large swarms of flying ants of several species. Ants were landing on the car et. The next few nights MAY see the big movements of the year. There was a modest movement of nighthawks, but VERY few birds otherwise, which was a atypical for this location. Turkey Vulture (3); Osprey (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); A Kestrel (2); PEREGRINE FALCON (1: buzzed all the Killdeer on the runway); Killdeer (7: no sign of the Uplands); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (148. Birds showed up as soon as we pulled up. There was some movement, but most birds flew back and forth feeding. One feeding flock just to the NW started with twelve birds and by 6:15 the flock had grown to over 40 birds. The entire flock then moved away from us to the NW and out of sight. We left at 6:30 seeing if we could find birds feeding over some of the chain of city reservoirs. No luck. We did not see another nighthawk all night.); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); N Flicker (1); Blue Jay (1); A Crow (28); Barn Swallow (2); Gray Catbird (1); E Starling (22: very low); Cedar Waxwing (6); Eastern Towhee (1); Bobolink (3); Baltimore Oriole (2); A Goldfinch (4); PLUS: on Kettlebrook #3: COMMON LOON in breeding plumage. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/28/08 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Highlights at noon were 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons (both juv, unusual in being out on the open mud flats), 1 Semipalmated Plover, 4 Killdeer, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 8 Least Sandpipers, 1 Belted Kingfisher, and 3 Cedar Waxwings. (report from Rick Quimby).

8/27/08 -- Northbridge

I heard an Eastern Screech Owl this evening in my backyard, which is near the Quaker Cemetery at the corner of Church Street in Northbridge. (report from Jenifer Glagowski).

8/27/08 -- Rt. 56 overlook of Worcester Airport, Leicester

We headed to the Rt.56 overlook of Worcester Airport (Leicester) tonight to count nighthawks at 5:25PM. But we got distracted. (see below). Partial list of what we had: A Kestrel (5 minimum); Merlin (1); Wild Turkey (9); Killdeer (11 minimum: the main east/west runway has been closed for repairs to the surface and birds were all over, most too far out to ID);

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BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (1, with the Killdeer way out on the main runway) Barred Owl (2 calling); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (105: all the birds were flying very low, including over the runway, and eventually headed into the city.); Eastern Kingbird (3); Tree Swallow (11); Barn Swallow (6); A Crow (38); Savannah Sparrow (6). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/25/08 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Joining the birds seen yesterday was a RUDDY TURNSTONE (juv), on the central mud flat in the pond. This is my first park record for this species. (report from Rick Quimby).

8/25/08 -- West Hill Dam, Uxbridge

This evening we watched about 50 common nighthawks feeding near the wooded ridge to the east/northeast beginning around 6:30pm. The number was small at the beginning but grew as some birds seemed to materialize out of nowhere (perhaps rising from low areas) and others joined from the northwest. Just a few of the nighthawks circled close enough to the dam for us to see their white patches. This group was still feeding when we left around 7pm. There were only a few chimney swifts around last evening, although there were about 30 in the area two nights ago. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

8/25/08 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Highlights at noon were 1 DC Cormorant, 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 2 Killdeer, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 7 Least Sandpipers, 1 Am Redstart, and 4 Baltimore Orioles (3 imm). (report from Rick Quimby).

8/24/08 -- Grafton Center

I counted a loose flock of 30 common nighthawks at approx. 7:15 PM in Grafton Center, just south of Lake Ripple. (report from Scott Jordan).

8/24/08 -- Rt. 56 airport overlook, Leicester

From 5:15PM-7:15PM, Sheila Carroll; Mark Lynch; Dan Berard; Deb Berard had: Great Blue Heron (1); Osprey (1); Cooper's Hawk (1); A Kestrel (1); Peregrine Falcon (1ad: circled up to the north and eventually flew into the city.); Wild Turkey (6); Ring-billed Gull (1); Mourning Dove (11); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (123: early on, before 5:30, a flock of (49) was seen circling, kettling high to the south, then rapidly peeling off to the SW. The rest were in small groups or singles. By 7:15, birds had stopped migrating and small numbers were beginning to feed over us.); Chimney Swift (11); Belted Kingfisher (1); Tree Swallow (8); Barn Swallow (23); Blue Jay (2); A Crow (22); American Robin (12); E Starling (114); Cedar Waxwing (39); Bobolink (29); Red-winged Blackbird (2); C Grackle (60+); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); A Goldfinch (7); NB: Sheila will post a few distant photos on her blog. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/24/08 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton

As of today, Fisherville Pond in Grafton, traditionally a good spot for late summer shorebirds in Worcester County, is still very flooded with absolutely no muddy edge. Therefore: NO shorebirds. Shorebirds this season in Worcester County are going to be tough with high water levels at most of the usual shorebird spots. The muddy flat in Institute /Salisbury Pond is so far one of the best places to look for Least Sandpipers. Birders are encouraged to report any drained ponds, lakes, reservoirs et here, especialy if accompanied with a report of some shorebrids. (report from Mark Lynch).

8/23/08 -- Ware River Watershed IBA, Rutland, Barre, Oakham

We spent the morning birding just a small part of the WARE RIVER IBA in the Rutland, Barre, Oakham area (see article in Bird Observer a few years back for details on where this is). Typically at this time of year the area sees a lot of visitors: hikers, bikers, fishermen, horseback riders. But today, humans were in short supply except along the completed Rail Trail, which runs through the southern section of the park. Passerines have started to stage for migration, and certain species like Pine Warblers, are now in large, and getting larger, discrete flocks that circulate through the forest for days, weeks and even months (depending on the species);, power-feeding before migration. Multi-species flocks are just starting to form. But a few other species were still in small "family units". This is probably the most difficult time to bird heavily forested tracts. There is very little song (select peewees and vireos) and the big flocks of fall migrants have yet to arrive. Birds are no longer dispersed throughout the forest, and they don't seem to respond to "spishing" at all. Great Blue Heron (3); Turkey Vulture (1); Wood Duck (14); Cooper?s Hawk (1imm that apparently had just taken a dunk. We came across the bird in a tree IN a beaver marsh, wings and tail spread out as far they could be, trying to dry off); Broad-winged Hawk (3ad); Red-tailed Hawk (3imm: one bird flew across a large pond with an Eastern Kingbird literally RIDING on it?s back. There was NO wing-flapping by the kingbird. It was holding on and pecking the back of the hawk, which unsurprisingly, called a lot. When the hawk reached the forested edge, the kingbird ditched and flew back across the pond calling.); Mourning Dove (6, including a pair mating); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (5); Hairy Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (2); Olive-sided Flycatcher (2: right on time. The area around the Prison Camp is a great location to search for this species in late August/early September); Eastern Wood Peewee (13); Least Flycatcher (1); Eastern Phoebe (21); Eastern Kingbird (10); Blue-headed Vireo (4); Red-eyed Vireo (26); Blue Jay (45); A Crow (1); Common Raven (1 young bird); Tree Swallow (14: migrating along the river); Black-capped Chickadee (52); Tufted Titmouse (9); Red-breasted Nuthatch (17: this species was in short supply during the breeding season in Central MA, but today they were at almost every stop with pines, perhaps indicating the start of a fall influx); White-breasted Nuthatch (6); Brown Creeper (3); CAROLINA WREN (1: deep in the forest. To state the obvious, Carolina Wrens are rare deep in the forests of the Ware River Watershed or Quabbin); House Wren (2); Winter Wren (1); Golden-crowned Kinglet (4); Eastern Bluebird (8); Hermit Thrush (5: including a just fledged individual with lots of down still); A Robin (36); Gray Catbird (19); Cedar Waxwing (66: a number of just fledged young birds); Yellow Warbler (1); NB: One question we have is this: where do all the Chestnut-sided Warblers go in late August? They are common breeders here. They are regular fall migrants in mid-September. But at this time, scarce as hen's teeth.); Yellow-rumped Warbler (8); Blackburnian Warbler (1); Pine Warbler (28); Black and White Warbler (6); American Redstart (1 still singing); Ovenbird (8); C Yellowthroat (16); Eastern Towhee (16); Chipping Sparrow (42); Song Sparrow (4); Swamp Sparrow (8); N Cardinal (2); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); C Grackle (1); Brown-headed Cowbird (2); Baltimore Oriole (2); Purple Finch (2); A Goldfinch (8); PLUS: Butterflies included Question Marks; Red-spotted Fritillary; Eyed Brown and C Wood Nymph. Verts included Bridle Shiner. Late summer blooms included FALSE DRAGONHEAD also known as Obedient Plant. So called because when you bend the flower head left or right, it stays there. We tried it, and it's true. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/23/08 -- Grafton

I spent an hour this evening checking for nighthawks from the parking lot of the Grafton High School. COMMON NIGHTHAWK - 12 (6:30 1 heading ESE over Grafton Center, 6:39 3 heading NE over Lake Ripple, 6:46 8 heading south over Quinsigamond River); Double-crested Cormorant - 4 (all heading north); Killdeer - 6; CHIMNEY SWIFT - 76 (feeding over Lake Ripple); Belted Kingfisher - 1; Northern Flicker - 1; COMMON RAVEN - 1 (this bird was heading towards the area where they nested in Millbury); Barn Swallow - 1; Cedar Waxwing - 3; Red-winged Blackbird - 17; Common Grackle - 6; (report from John Liller).

8/23/08 -- Rt. 56 airport overlook, Leicester

From 5:15PM-7:30PM, with WEATHER: mostly clear; mid-70s, little wind. OBSERVERS: Mark Lynch, Sheila Carroll, Bart Kamp. TOTAL LIST: Turkey Vulture (2); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Ring-billed Gull (1); Mourning Dove (11); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (283: the majority of these birds passed in three, long strung out flocks that passed around the hill, north and south, and headed southwest. These birds passed rapidly, with no feeding. Many birds were high.); Chimney Swift (5); E Phoebe (2); Tree Swallow (3); Barn Swallow (22); Blue Jay (6); American Crow (58); Common Raven (1); A Robin (32); Gray Catbird (2); Cedar Waxwing (51); E Starling (170); Savannah Sparrow (2); Bobolink (43); Red-winged Blackbird (1); C Grackle (26); A Goldfinch (9); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/22/08 -- Rt. 56, Leicester

We spent from just after 5:30PM to well after 7:30PM, nighthawk watching from the Rt. 56 airport overlook. The winds were negligible; temps in the mid 70s. Skies were mostly clear with a few scattered clouds. Double-crested Cormorant (2); Turkey Vulture (1); Killdeer (3); UPLAND SANDPIPER (2: fly-bys: seen well as they flew right across our field of view but continued to head south southeast past the airport fields); Mourning Dove (1); Chimney Swift (11); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (55: all over; most feeding and moving. Some drift-back with a few birds, but even they eventually moved on); Blue Jay (4); American Crow (19); Tree Swallow (7); Barn Swallow (8); A Robin (2); Gray Catbird (2); E Starling (176); Cedar Waxwing (30); Scarlet Tanager (1); Bobolink (32); Red-winged Blackbird (1); Common Grackle (57); Baltimore Oriole (2); American Goldfinch (6); PLUS: a HUGE flight of darner dragonflies, literally several hundreds. Though some were Green Darners, others had well-marked thoraxes, but none stopped long enough to be ID?d with certainty. (13); migrating Monarchs. AND: (2); sky-divers that looked like they came down just past airport hill. One was trailing smoke and a huge American flag. This is not typical for this loction. (report from Mark Lynch).

8/22/08 -- Institute Park, Worcester

The decreased rainfall has brought the pond level back down, and the inland shorebirding is getting good again here. Highlights today were 7 Mute Swan (2 ad, 5 imm), 4 Killdeer, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Spotted Sandpiper (imm), 5 Least Sandpipers, 1 E. Kingbird, 1 Tree Swallow (imm), and 1 Cedar Waxwing. Additional species seen yesterday (8/21) were 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Red-eyed Vireo (singing), 1 Yellow Warbler (imm), and 1 Baltimore Oriole (m). (report from Rick Quimby).

8/21/08 -- Redstone Hill Rd, Sterling

At 5:30 PM, there were 50 Nighthawks feeding and heading south, southwest. (report from Scott Handler).

8/20/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge

A great egret flew fairly low over River Bend Farm this morning. Actually, it sashayed, flying this way and that way but never quite making a circle. "Should I stop for a fish? Yes. Maybe. No." After several minutes, it headed off to the northeast; but it was not seen at Rice City Pond or the West Hill marsh. (report from Beth and Paul Milke).

8/17/08 -- Harvard Pond, Petersham

This morning we birded in one small area in PETERSHAM: around the Harvard Pond/Tom Swamp area. BTW: Tom Swamp is actually the marshy and boggy north end of Harvard Pond. Most birds seen were in a post-breeding mode with family groups of migrant passerines spending most of their time in the upperstory of the forest, power feeding. You certainly could still be ticking some "Confirmed" codes for atlasing. Song was restricted to the vireos and peewees mostly, but there was the occasional outburst from warblers. Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (2); Green Heron (1); Wood Duck (24); Mallard (2); A Black Duck (5); Hooded Merganser (4imm); Red-shouldered Hawk (1imm+1ad: the immature dove into some water on the marshy edge probably trying for a frog and spent the next 15 minutes sitting low in a tree preening and trying to dry off); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); Mourning Dove (3); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (3); E Wood Peewee (1); E Phoebe (7); Blue-headed Vireo (3); Red-eyed Vireo (24); Blue Jay (17); A Crow (4); C Raven (1); Tree Swallow (20: migrating NW); Winter Wren (1); Black-capped Chickadee (59); Tufted Titmouse (6); Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); Brown Creeper (4); Hermit Thrush (1); A Robin (3); Gray Catbird (9); Cedar Waxwing (17); Yellow-rumped Warbler (4); Black-throated Green Warbler (6); Pine Warbler (2); Black and White Warbler (6); American Redstart (3); Ovenbird (2); C Yellowthroat (5); Scarlet Tanager (3); Chipping Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (5); Swamp Sparrow (7); Bobolink (8: overhead); Baltimore Oriole (3); Purple Finch (1); American Goldfinch (4); PLUS: Beaver and a family of 4 River Otters. Butterflies included a good number of Red-spotted Purples ; White Admirals and a single Common Buckeye. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/17/08 -- Rt. 56 overlook, Leicester

We spent from 5PM-7:30PM watching for nighthawks from Rt.56 to Worcester Airport, spending almost all our time at the Rt.56 overlook. Weather was fair with a cloudless sky, making nighthawk watching difficult. There was very little breeze. Temps: mid 70s. NB: It's still a little early for the big movements, but watch for the flying ant swarms! Complete list: Double-crested Cormorant (1); Turkey Vulture (2); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); American Kestrel (4); Wild Turkey (5ad+4yg); BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (4: I heard the plovers overhead and luckily sharp-eyed Sheila spotted them, and I was able to get my scope on them. They flew down to a section of the runway out of sight from our vantage point. Black-bellied and American Golden Plovers are likely rare but yearly in fall in the airport environs, but you need good ears to pick them up as the fly overhead); Killdeer (13); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Ring-billed Gull (1); Mourning Dove (4); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (20: all but one went by within the first hour, either heading south or southwest); Chimney Swift (3); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Eastern Kingbird (10); Blue Jay (2); A Crow (26); Barn Swallow (2); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (5); E Starling (169); Cedar Waxwing (57); Yellow Warbler (3); Eastern Towhee (1); Savannah Sparrow (12); Bobolink (68); Eastern Meadowlark (1); C Grackle (22); A Goldfinch (6); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/16/08 -- Blackstone National Corridor: RHODE ISLAND section

We spent the morning birding in the Rhode Island section of the Blackstone National Corridor. Highlights:

WOONSOCKET RESERVOIR, Smithfield/Lincoln: Double-crested Cormorant (4); Great Blue Heron (2); Green Heron (1); Canada Goose (20); Red-tailed Hawk (2imm, calling incessantly); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Least Sandpiper (2); Eastern Phoebe (2); Eastern Bluebird (4); NB: the water levels here are still a bit high for this time of the year. Only a few small rocky/mud islands were visible above water.

LINCOLN: Cooper's Hawk (1imm);

SNEETCH POND, Cumberland: Double-crested Cormorant (1); Green Heron (3); Canada Goose (44); Wood Duck (9); Osprey (2); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Black-billed Cuckoo (1); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Eastern Phoebe (7);

DIAMOND HILL/ARNOLD MILLS RESERVOIRS, Cumberland: Double-crested Cormorant (10); Great Egret (1); Great Blue Heron (6); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (31); Osprey (1); Semipalmated Plover (2); Killdeer (9); Greater Yellowlegs (3); Lesser Yellowlegs (7); Spotted Sandpiper (6); Least Sandpiper (31); Semipalmated Sandpiper (3); Pectoral Sandpiper (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); Barn Swallow (10+); NB: only Arnold Mills had lowered water. This is still the most difficult place to bird ?well? in all of the RI section of the Corridor.

10 MILE RIVER at the Country Club, PAWTUCKET: Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Egret (1); Great Blue Heron (1); Green Heron (1); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (8); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (5); Greater Yellowlegs (1); Least Sandpiper (6); Semipalmated Sandpiper (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Tree Swallow (15+); N Rough-winged Swallow (3); Barn Swallow (20+);

SLATER PARK, Pawtucket: Mute Swan (8); Canada Goose (38); Mallard (72); SEEKONK RIVER, Providence/East Providence, south to Bold Point. Double-crested Cormorant (211); Great Egret (7); Great Blue Heron (29); Green Heron (1); Black-crowned Night Heron (3imm+1ad); Turkey Vulture (6); Mute Swan (33); Canada Goose (9); Mallard (218); Osprey (12); Laughing Gull (3); Ring-billed Gull (652); Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 adS); Herring Gull (201); Great Black-backed Gull (634); NB: we did our standard point count of the river as the tide was just starting to lower. There was a tremendous concentration of fish (and fishermen); along the river. These included bait fish like Menhaden, but also much larger fish that the Osprey, herons and gulls were gorging on that looked like Blues. On the way out, we stopped by the small ornamental pond in Swan Point and found the old RED-EARED SLIDER that has been living there for decades, likely since some child let their small pet green turtle go in the 60s. Also in the same pond were several Eastern Painted Turtles and a large Snapper.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/15/08 -- Spencer

This afternoon, before the rain, there was a circling flock of 15-20 common nighthawks near the Big Y parking lot on route 9 in Spencer. (report from Bart Kamp).

8/10/08 -- Fitchburg/Gardner

Highlights on a 25 mile biking loop from home through High Ridge WMA, into Gardner to Mount Wachusett Comm. College and back this morning: Wood Duck 4; American Black Duck 1; Common Loon 2; Double-crested Cormorant 1; Great Blue Heron 5; Great Egret 2 (1 at High Ridge WMA the other near rte 2 in Westminster); Green Heron 1; Turkey Vulture 4; Solitary Sandpiper 1; Black-billed Cuckoo 1; Chimney Swift 3; Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2; Hairy Woodpecker 1; Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1; Eastern Wood-Pewee 4; Empidonax sp. 3; Eastern Phoebe 5; Eastern Kingbird 6; Blue-headed Vireo 1; Warbling Vireo 2; Red-eyed Vireo 16; Barn Swallow 4; Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (adult w/ fledgling X2); House Wren 10; Hermit Thrush 4 Still some song; Cedar Waxwing 27; Yellow Warbler 2; Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 all 1st yr Imm.; American Redstart 1; Ovenbird 1; Common Yellowthroat 8; Eastern Towhee 1; Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2; Indigo Bunting 1; Baltimore Oriole 3; Purple Finch 11; (report from Tom Pirro).

8/10/08 -- Dudley

We spent the morning doing some very late season atlasing in DUDLEY (block: Webster 2). This is a block that has not (as yet) been covered. This is a shame because despite the sadly inevitable onslaught of sprawl, this block still contains quite a bit of farmland and decent-sized woodlots. Throw in a few small marshy ponds and a section of the Quinnebaug River, and you have an interesting block to bird. Even though many species have finished their breeding season, we were still able to "confirm" a number of species. It is obvious this block holds about 20+ other species as breeders.
Great Blue Heron (6); Wood Duck (8); Mallard (10); Cooper?s Hawk (1ad); Broad-winged Hawk (2imm); NORTHERN BOBWHITE (1 calling inconsistently from a scrubby area near some forest edge. We could find no game farm nearby nor are there any wildlife management areas nearby where Bobwhite could be released in field trials. Still, it is very likely this is a released bird.); Virginia Rail (3); Killdeer (1); Spotted Sandpiper (4); Rock Pigeon (48); Mourning Dove (36: one bird was seen carrying nesting material, starting another nest at this late date!); Eastern Screech Owl (1); Chimney Swift (8); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (6); Downy Woodpecker (19); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (5); E Wood Peewee (13); Eastern Phoebe (22); Eastern Kingbird (11); Red-eyed Vireo (14); Blue Jay (13); A Crow (16); Tree Swallow (30+); Barn Swallow (35); Black-capped Chickadee (94); Tufted Titmouse (47); White-breasted Nuthatch (15); Carolina Wren (13); House Wren (8); Winter Wren (3); Eastern Bluebird (8); Hermit Thrush (2); Wood Thrush (2); A Robin (98); Gray Catbird (36); E Starling (200+); Cedar Waxwing (13); Yellow Warbler (12: some still singing); Pine Warbler (5); Black and White Warbler (6: some still singing); A Redstart (2: still singing); Northern Waterthrush (1 still singing); C Yellowthroat (6); Canada Warbler (1imm+1ad: bred in block); Scarlet Tanager (5); Eastern Towhee (9); Chipping Sparrow (56); Song Sparrow (24); N Cardinal (35); Indigo Bunting (5); Bobolink (30+); Red-winged Blackbird (2); C Grackle (27); Baltimore Oriole (7); House Finch (8); A Goldfinch (41: we watched adult males feeding fledged young); House Sparrow (260); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/6/08 -- Institute Park, Worcester

On the Forbush Bird Club Night Heron Walk, highlights were Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, and Eastern Kingbird. Here is the complete trip list. (report from Bob Aiello fide Joan Gallagher).

For previous sightings, see July 2008 Archives or Archive Index