August 2012 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:

Bird Sightings:

8/31/12 -- Rt. 56 overlook of airport, Leicester
  • We went to the Rt. 56 overlook of the Worcester Airport from 5:10-6:30PM this evening not expecting much because the winds were 15 mph+ from the SW. But we did see (101) COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, most in small groups. They were seen coming in from the east or east southeast then heading over the north end of the hill and then out of sight. Many were flying very rapidly and some were having a hard time in the wind. Many were also flying low. So far, numbers of nighthawks have been modest at best and there had yet to be a significant bloom of flying ants here or in the Connecticut River Valley (personal report from veteran nighthawk watcher Tom Gagnon). Maybe this weekend.
  • Also seen in the airport vicinity: Double-crested Cormorant (1 flyover); Canada Goose (13); A Kestrel (2); Peregrine Falcon (1imm); Killdeer (6); Barn Swallow (2); Bobolink (24). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 8/30/12 -- Barre Landfill, Barre
  • Yesterday (8/29) between 4:30 pm to 6 pm I saw 3 BLACK VULTURES together and possibly 1 other, among the 70+ Turkey Vultures heading to their evening roost across the road from the Barre landfill.
  • This morning at the North Brookfield Sewer "brush dump" I had 5 Indigo Buntings and an early Lincoln's Sparrow. (report from Rodney Jenkins).

    • 8/28/12 -- Main St, Manchaug in Sutton
    Around 6.30 while Coni counting I had an Osprey show up .Slow lately, but with the Coni's tonight it was not to bad with 85 birds around 5.55 - 6.05 (688 so far this season). (report from Michael Joubert).

    8/26/12 -- Grafton High School, Grafton
    From 5:42 PM - 6:42 PM, 20 species were recorded, including Double-crested Cormorant 1; Osprey 1; Killdeer 2; COMMON NIGHTHAWK 32 (most were heading east); Chimney Swift 5; Eastern Bluebird 7; Cedar Waxwing 3. (report from John Liller).

    8/26/12 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
    Shortly after noon today, 2 Red-necked Phalaropes were seen from the Scar Hill bluffs lookout at Wachusett Reservoir in Boylston. They were flying and feeding like the phalaropes that Kevin saw yesterday. Also resting on the rocky islands near Sholan Point with the gulls were 2 Common Mergansers. (report from Bart Kamp).

    8/26/12 -- Winchendon/Ashburnham
    Today we birded in the north County towns of WINCHENDON and ASHBURNHAM, making a few stops en route. One of our on-going projects is to see in how many Massachusetts towns we can find Virginia Rail. It's a bit of a tough project and we have dipped in many towns, but today we crossed off 4 towns on our list. Overall birds today were scarce, especially warblers, and it was a bit surprising how few Red-breasted Nuthatches we found. Highlights only:
  • PRINCETON (1 pond): Great Blue heron (1); Virginia Rail (2); Warbling Vireo (1); Swamp Sparrow (4);
  • WESTMINISTER: Wild Turkey (3); Virginia Rail (1);
  • NE WINCHENDON (nb: we did not bird Otter River area): Great Blue Heron (3); Wood Duck (5); Mallard (5); Virginia Rail (4); Killdeer (3); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); E Phoebe (7); E Bluebird (10); Warbling Vireo (1 still singing); Red-eyed Vireo (13); C Yellowthroat (4); NO Red-breasted Nuthatches! ASHBURNHAM: Turkey Vulture (2); A Black Duck (6); Broad-winged Hawk (1); Virginia Rail (2); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2imm); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (1); E Phoebe (1); Blue-headed Vireo (4); Red-eyed Vireo (11); Red-breasted Nuthatch (10); Black-throated Green Warbler (5); Black and White Warbler (1); Ovenbird (2); Purple Finch (1);
  • GARDNER: Common Raven (2 in flight display);
  • STERLING: Cooper's Hawk (1);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 8/25/12 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton/Boylston
    There was a flock of 7 Red-necked Phalaropes (3 juv. 4 ad.) at Wachusett Reservoir this afternoon (3:25-3:55 pm). They were seen from Sawyer Bluff, the point at the end of gate 8. They were first spotted sitting on open water in the north section of the reservoir. I had one here last year on 27Aug11 feeding with ring-billed gulls. This flock was very skittish and looked like they wouldn't be sticking around for long. They would feed for a minute and then fly long distances over the water. At one point they flew close by me only to continue flying over the entire north section of the reservoir. They were last seen flying north of cemetery island, out of view. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    8/25/12 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    Highlights of a trip to Sterling Peat this morning included a Great Egret (at one point in the same area as a Great Blue Heron and Green Heron and had them all in my field of view at the same time), the lone Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Green-winged Teal and a Red-breasted Nuthatch calling from the pines across the pond. The Least Sandpipers and Killdeer flocks remain modest (5 Killdeer and 9 Least Sandpipers) that I could see. (report from Kim Allen).

    8/25/12 -- Quabbin Park, South Quabbin Reservoir
    We spent the morning birding QUABBIN PARK/SOUTH QUABBIN in Ware and Belchertown off Rt.9. There were small pockets of birds and little birdsong except for vireos, 1 Black and White Warbler, 1 Common Yellowthroat and peewees. Complete list below:
  • Double-crested Cormorant (1imm); Great Blue Heron (4); Green Heron (1imm); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (43); Wood Duck (10); Mallard (loose group of 26 way out on deep water seen from Administration Building. Odd); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1ad+1imm); Killdeer (3); Solitary Sandpiper (1); Spotted Sandpiper (1); BLACK TERN (1: seen for most of the morning from the Administration Building); Mourning Dove (13); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (3 migrants); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (9); E Phoebe (5); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Blue-headed Vireo (1 yg bird); Red-eyed Vireo (41? several post nesting ?family? groups); Blue Jay (13); A Crow (17); C Raven (1); Tree Swallow (185+: large numbers over min body and another concentration over Hank?s Meadow); Black-capped Chickadee (54); Tufted Titmouse (8); RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (43); White-breasted Nuthatch (13); House Wren (4); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2); E Bluebird (3); Veery (1); American Robin (only 1); Gray Catbird (17);
      WARBLERS: Chestnut-sided (5); Black-throated Green (6); Pine (4); Black and White (3); A Redstart (6); C Yellowthroat (7);
    Scarlet Tanager (1); E Towhee (10); Song Sparrow (2); N Cardinal (6); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Bobolink (3); Baltimore Oriole (1); RED CROSSBILL (1 passing by while at Enfield Lookout); A Goldfinch (17);
  • PLUS: Mink (roadkill); River Otter; Woodchuck; White-tailed Deer. Butterflies consisted only of Painted Ladys and American Coppers. Nice display of FERN-LEAVED FALSE FOXGLOVE.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 8/24/12 -- Grafton
    After a year's hiatus due to the construction of the new Grafton High School, Kim Kastler and I returned to the High School to check for nighthawks this evening from 5:35-6:35. There was very little movement, though we did have a good number of swifts feeding over Lake Ripple. Highlights were: Common Nighthawks (7 - 2 heading south along the Quinsigamond River at 6:09 and 5 heading southwest overhead at 6:19); Chimney Swifts (54+); Double-crested Cormorant (1); Killdeer (1 - with the new school, the feeding area in the fields is quite limited, so our numbers will probably be less from now on); Northern Flicker (1); Eastern Kingbird (1).
    (report from John Liller).

    8/24/12 -- Ware River IBA, Rutland/Barre
    We spent the morning birding in just the southern section of the WARE RIVER IBA covering the Army Corps of Engineers roads between Rutland State Park and Barre Falls Dam. The habitat here is mostly mature mixed forest interspersed with small overgrown fields along two streams. I did a complete "where to find" of this location in BIRD OBERVER some years back. Birds today were typical for this time of the year with numbers of young birds.
  • Birds recorded: Great Blue Heron (2); Wood Duck (2); Broad-winged Hawk (1: we spent no time at the hawkwatch spot as mowers were cutting the grass); Mourning Dove (5); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (4); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (3); Downy Woodpecker (12); Hairy Woodpecker (5); N Flicker (3); Pileated Woodpecker (3); Olive-sided Flycatcher (1); Eastern Wood Peewee (12); Least Flycatcher (1); Eastern Phoebe (33); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); E Kingbird (7); Warbling Vireo (3); Red-eyed Vireo (51: still lots of birds singing); Blue Jay (23); Common Raven (3); Tree Swallow (2); Black-capped Chickadee (114); Tufted Titmouse (18); RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (157: 1-3 of more birds at almost every stop); White-breasted Nuthatch (17); Brown Creeper (4); House Wren (4); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1); E Bluebird (3); Veery (8); Hermit Thrush (4: all young birds with bits of down still about the head and back); A Robin (11); Gray Catbird (43); Cedar Waxwing (11);
      WARBLERS: Yellow (1); Chestnut-sided (3); Magnolia (1); Yellow-rumped (2); Black-throated Green (6); Blackburnian (1); Pine (9); Black and White (16); A Redstart (9); Northern Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (36);
    E Towhee (17); Chipping Sparrow (7); Song Sparrow (2); Swamp Sparrow (17); N Cardinal (3); Bobolink (9: overhead at Prison Camp area); Baltimore Oriole (1m); RED CROSSBILL (1); A Goldfinch (12);
  • PLUS: blooms included a nice display of Cardinal Flower; Turtlehead and Bottle Gentian.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 8/23/12 -- Worcester Airport
    HIghlights of the evening Forbush Bird Club trip to the RT 56 overlook of the Worcester airport, looking for Common Nighthawks, were 55 Nighthawks. There were 17 observers, and many people stopping to ask what we were doing. When one woman was told we were looking for Nighthawks she asked what we did with them when we found them. I did not know what to say.....

    We saw 17 species in all, with highlights: 4 Wood Ducks, 1 Green Heron, 1 Red tail Hawk and 3 Bobolinks. Here is the complete trip list. (trip report from John Shea).

    8/23/12 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    With the recent reports of very low numbers of shorebirds at Sterling Peat recently, I was hesitant to visit this afternoon. I decided to drop by anyways in hopes of photographing a new species of shorebird. The water was much higher than my last visit a few weeks ago, along with an amazingly low number of shorebirds present. I spent about 30 minutes at the mudflats and found only 4 Killdeer, a Solitary Sandpiper, two Blue-winged Teal, a juvey Great Blue Heron and a small group of Canada Geese. Two species that were of interest included one Semipalmated Sandpiper and one Greater Yellowlegs. I was able to get some very nice photos of the yellowlegs, which was extremely active while it chased minnows around. It was a very fun new species for me to photograph. I laid motionless on my belly in the hardened mud and rocks and waited for the bird to come to me..... (report from Josh Gahagan).

    8/23/12 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    Today at 2:30 pm there was an adult Black-crowned Night-Heron in the pond. This sighting was unusual for me, since I nearly always see them either perched in trees or perched along the shore. This bird was IN the water, along with swimming Canada Geese, with water up to the body of the bird. It was between the small island that has grown in at the center of the pond, and the larger "island" that has trees on it (and marsh in back). Other birds included 7 Mute Swan, 31 Canada Geese, 1 Cedar Waxwing, ~10 Chipping Sparrows, and 1 Turkey Vulture flying over. (report from Rick Quimby).

    8/22/12 -- Worcester Airport
    This evening from 6PM-7:15PM we again birded the Worcester Airport area looking for Golden Plover and to look for nighthawks. We birded the terminal side; Mulberry Street and the Rt. 56 overlook. Killdeer and robins are finding that plowed area along Rt. 56 attractive. It is amazing how difficult birds are to spot among the huge clumps. We had the following (partial list): Double-crested Cormorant (2 flying high over the city) Red-tailed Hawk (1) A Kestrel (6: best seen from Mulberry) Killdeer (15: nb: at 1 point, from the Rt. 56 overlook, we saw a flock of 4 plovers flushed by an airplane that did not look like Killdeer. But we were looking all the way from Rt. 56, albeit with scopes. They flew across the runway low and to the south on the runway. We went down to the terminal to get a better look and could see nothing, so I am not counting anything) Common Nighthawk (7: all feeding low. Surprisingly low numbers) Tree Swallow (4) Barn Swallow (9) E Bluebird (4imm) A Robin (120+) Bobolink (10) (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    8/22/12 -- Worcester Airport
    We tried for the Golden Plover this morning from the terminal side of the airport with no luck. We did have American Kestrel (1m); Killdeer (14) and E Meadowlark (4). It's a large area and the bird could still be around somewhere or at the plowed field on Rt. 56. Birders should keep looking here for this and other species of "grasspipers" for the next few weeks, and Golden Plover into October. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    8/21/12 -- Rt. 56 airport overlook, Worcester
    We were at the Rt. 56 overlook of Worcester Airport from 5:45-7:15PM. We ended up positioning ourselves more midway along the pull off. Initially we had a number of nighthawks flying by along the western horizon and the vegetation has now gotten tall enough from our usual spot at the north end of the pull off, that we had to change places in order to see those birds well. This meant we had only a partial view of the runway.
  • Complete list: Turkey Vulture (2 far out to east); Killdeer (3: in the plowed field next to pull off); Solitary Sandpiper (1: flew by low calling, circled and appeared to land in the plowed field. Birders should be on the look out for Buff-breasted here); Ring-billed Gull (3); Mourning Dove (13); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (337: initially small groups were seen flying SSW to the west and far out to the east; These birds were flying fast taking no time to feed; later birds were seen flying into the city from the NW, some right overhead. As we drove home we had 48 birds feeding low among trees and houses near Tatnuck Square. Those were not added into the total of course); Chimney Swift (4); E Phoebe (2); E Kingbird (1); Blue Jay (3); A Crow (17); Tree Swallow (8); Barn Swallow (33); A Robin (76); Gray Catbird (2); Cedar Waxwing (12); Scarlet Tanager (1); Savannah Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (1); DICKCISSEL (1m: perched in bushes near small white building; then took off SSW); Bobolink (43); E Meadowlark (2); C Grackle (36); A Goldfinch (7); House Sparrow (2); Plus: Monarch: 36 migrating
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 8/21/12 -- Worcester Airport
  • Here are a couple of fair digi-scoped pictures (1| 2) of the Golden Plover that Peter found at Worcester Airport this morning (see below). They were taken at 8:45 AM. The bird was feeding in the grass adjacent to the paved area where the planes park.
  • Also this morning there was a Greater Yellowlegs at Sterling Peat.
    (report from Bart Kamp).

    • 8/21/12 -- Worcester Airport
    This morning there was an American Golden Plover at the airport close to the terminal. It was with some Starlings and Mourning Doves and spent most of the time on the runway not the grass. (report from Peter Morlock).

    8/20/12 -- Main St. Manchaug, Sutton
    Up until tonight I had 22 CONI'S . This evening from  5.00 through 7.30 I had 367 all coming in from the North .Most feeding and moving. I had large ammouts of flying ants in the area all night. Also tonight I had between 75 and 80 Tree Swallows and like numbers of Chimney Swifts .Also 50+ Ceder Waxwings hawking insects. (report from Michael Joubert).

    8/20/12 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    On an evening trip to Sterling Peat I met Dave Grant. Highlights were at least 4 CLIFF SWALLOWS. They were perched with many Barn Swallows and a few Tree Swallows on a small multi-branched dead tree on the east side of the pond. The swallows did not begin to feed low over the water and perch until AFTER 7:00 PM. The water was lower today than it was on Saturday. However, only Solitary and Least Sandpipers were present. Six Common Nighthawks were feeding in the area. (report from Bart Kamp).

    8/19/12 -- Still River basin, West Boylston
    There were 300+ Nighthawks feeding above the Still River basin around 7 pm. I observed them from the bridge on RT 140 (Beaman Street). (report from Jean Holm).

    8/19/12 -- Salisbury Pond, Worcester
    As we were leaving the city near dawn, we had 2 immature BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERONS fly up out of Salisbury Pond. They circled up and headed out west. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    8/19/12 -- West Boylston
    From my home in West Boylston this evening I counted 204 Common Nighthawks for 1.5 hours between 5:30 and 7:45PM. Either groups of about 25 or single birds would pass through every 15 minutes or so. All heading SSW with little feeding. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    8/18/12 -- Oakham
    This morning we birded only in the town of OAKHAM. Apparently this area got really socked by the storms last night as there were a number of areas with branches on the street and several areas where soil and rocks had washed into the street.
  • Birds: Great Blue Heron (2); N Goshawk (1ad); Broad-winged Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (1); Wild Turkey (4ad+1 very yg bird); Virginia Rail (7); Mourning Dove (3); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1imm); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (2); E Wood Peewee (10: all still calling); E Phoebe (4); E Kingbird (1); Red-eyed Vireo (4); Blue Jay (24); A Crow (8); C raven (1); Tree Swallow (7); Barn Swallow (3); Black-capped Chickadee (36); Tufted Titmouse (17); Red-breasted Nuthatch (33); White-breasted Nuthatch (11); Brown Creeper (2); E Bluebird (2); Veery (1); A Robin (16); Gray Catbird (15); Cedar Waxwing (4);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); Magnolia (2imm); Yellow-rumped (2); Black-throated Green (1); Pine (13: several males still singing); Black and White (3imm); Ovenbird (1); C Yellowthroat (11);
    Scarlet Tanager (2); E Towhee (6); Chipping Sparrow (7); Swamp Sparrow (3); N Cardinal (13); Red-winged Blackbird (4); Baltimore Oriole (1); Purple Finch (3); A Goldfinch (14);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 8/18/12 -- Worcester Airport/Mulberry St, Worcester
    This morning there were 13 American Kestrels feeding. They were perched on the runway lights and the Red tower and kept dive bombing for prey. (report from Peter Morlock).

    8/18/12 -- St Philips Cemetery, Grafton
    I was at the cemetery this morning (August 18) from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Rainy most of the time. Highlights were 10 Green Herons, 7 Mute Swans, 3 Great Blue Herons, 1 Great Egret, and an juvenile Red-tailed Hawk that continuously called for most of my visit. The Green Herons were scattered on logs and stumps along the far edge (western side?) of the swamp as seen from the usual observation point. Quite a sight. The Great Egret circled overhead once. The Mute Swans consisted of 2 adults and 5 juveniles. I observed 16 marsh ducks, all of which appeared to be Mallards, no teal or Wood Ducks. (report from Ed Kittredge). 

    8/17/12 -- Millbury
    I had a flock of about 30 chimney swifts this morning at Silverfox Drive in Millbury. Hummingbirds are feeding here like crazy as they are at my home in Worcester as well. Unfortunately, both sites have Coopers hawks who are taking out the doves...
    (report from Susan LaBree).

    8/16/12 -- Notre Dame Cemetary, Worcester
    I went to Notre Dame Cemetery around 6:50 this evening on my way home. I went to the same viewing area as the [Forbush Bird Club] group did last evening with leader John Shea. I scanned as much of the water as possible with no findings. After walking around a little, at 7:05 I started to look over at the "dead tree" across the marsh again and the Black-crowned NIght-Heron was in the water, directly in front of the "dead tree", stabbing and hunting away. After about 6 minutes, the bird flew up onto the dead tree but at this point was obscured by the foliage.   I started to walk around & attempt to view other parts of the pond and spooked a Great blue and also found an adult Mute Swan and a female Wood Duck. After about 5 minutes I went back to look for the Black crowned. I found the bird as it was perched on the "dead tree" but partially obscured by the foliage. I put my scope on the bird with excellent views  with a little of the body obscured by the foliage.  
    Very nice. Thank you John, and thank you Alan Marble for describing how the bird had been seen over on the "dead tree" and in that area. (report from Scott Ricker).

    8/15/12 -- All Faiths Cemetery, Worcester
    Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club evening walk were 15 Wood Ducks (one had 9 chicks), 1 Common Nighthawk, 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird and 1 N.Oriole. Here is the complete trip list of the 21 species recorded. (report from John Shea).

    8/13/12 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton/Sterling
    Today around 6pm there was an adult bald eagle across from gate 41 in Clinton and an American Kestrel was hunting along the dike in Sterling at gate 36. (report from Jean Holm).

    8/13/12 -- Sutton
    At 6:04 pm, on Main St Manchaug, had first CommonNightHawk of fall count . Also had many Chimney Swifts and 18-19 CederWaxwings and 2 fly over GreenHerons. (report from Michael Joubert).

    8/13/12 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    Highlights of an early morning visit to Sterling Peat were 3 Blue-winged Teal. They were tolerant of my presence and did not flush while I was there. The water on the west side is rising and the numbers and variety of shore birds are falling. However, for now there is still good habitat for shore birds. (report from Bart Kamp).

    8/12/12 -- Grafton & Sterling
  • There was a Great Egret at St Philips Cemetery in Grafton this morning as well as 3 Great Blue Herons, 2 Green Heron's and a very vocal juvenile Red-tailed Hawk.
  • The Pied-billed Grebe remains at the Quag in Sterling as well as two Solitary Sandpipers
  • I decided to check on Sterling Peat in the pouring rain this morning to see what impact the rain this weekend has had and it's filled up since yesterday when Alan, Bart and I were there and saw two Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Plover and the other regular shorebirds. Shorebird activity this morning appeared non existent as birds were not out in the open and the foggy optics didn't help! (report from Kimberly Allen).

    • 8/12 12 -- Barre transfer station, Barre
    En route to the Berkshires, we stopped by the Barre transfer station (and swamp behind it) and in the pouring rain had the following: Turkey Vulture (42+); Black Vulture (2+); Nothing looks more miserable than vultures in the pouring rain. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    8/11/12 -- South Quabbin/Palmer/Lake Quabog, Quabbin Reservoir/Brookfields
  • A brief visit to South Quabbin/Quabbin Park Saturday had the following (partial list): Great Blue Heron (3); Green Heron (1); Wood Duck (7); Common Merganser (6imm); Bald Eagle (1); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1imm); Killdeer (15: state trout hatchery); Solitary Sandpiper (3); Least Sandpiper (2); Ring-billed Gull (10); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (2); E Phoebe (8); E Kingbird (8); Red-breasted Nuthatch (11); Tree Swallow (12); Barn Swallow (4); E Bluebird (4); Veery (3); Gray Catbird (17); Pine Warbler (7); Indigo Bunting (1); Baltimore Oriole (2);
  • THEN at a single small marshy pond in PALMER: Great Blue Heron (1); Green Heron (16); Broad-winged Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); A Kestrel (1m); Virginia Rail (1); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); N Flicker (2); Tree Swallow (30+); Barn Swallow (13); Baltimore Oriole (4);
  • LAKE QUABOG, in Brookfield only had the following: Great Blue Heron (7); Mallard (10); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Ring-billed Gull (23);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 8/10/12 -- Sterling Peat and The Quag, Sterling
  • This morning at Sterling Peat, along with Brad Blodget, we saw a Blue-winged Teal, a Pectoral Sandpiper, Killdeers, Least Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpiper and Solitary Sandpipers.
  • At the Quag I saw 3 Solitary Sandpipers and a Pied-billed Grebe.
    (report from Peter Morlock).

    • 8/8/12 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    The highlight of several hours of visiting Sterling Peat this afternoon was a Pectoral Sandpiper. It came within 50 feet from me at one point as I was laying motionless in the mud for awhile. Saw all the usual shorebirds plus a continuing adult Green Heron, which I have found here each visit in the past week. I suspect that with another week without any rain the west side will be completely dried up. (report from Josh Gahagan).

    8/8/12 -- Northboro
    I spotted a Muscovy Duck today, still feeding along the Assabet River along Hudson Street in Northboro. I first spotted this duck in March and have seen it frequently over the past months. I know this is probably an escapee from a farm but it seems to have taken up residence on the river. These pictures (pic 1| pic 2) were taken in March when I could stop to capture the pictures. (report from Henry Squillante).

    8/7/12 -- Village of Manchaug, Sutton
    At 4:15 this afternoon I could hear a high pitched calls in the trees in my yard .It took a while to locate the birds and was rewarded with 2 BroadWinged Hawks . (report from Michael Joubert).

    8/7/12 -- Berlin
    While enjoying my coffee this morning on my back deck I spotted one osprey flying to the East and seven broad-winged hawks soaring high above, barely visable with the naked eye but quite identifiable with binoculars.  Additionally we have a barred owl living in the wetlands behind our development, I hear it from time to time in the early evening.  I recently moved back to MA following 23 yrs on the road in the Air Force. I live right on the boarder of Berlin and Hudson. (report from Randy Langer).

    8/5/12 -- Quabbin Park, Quabbin Reservoir
    We birded QUABBIN PARK for part of the morning and then continued birding in the western Quabbin towns of Pelham, Shutesbury and Wendell.
  • Birds recorded: Common Loon (2ad); Turkey Vulture (6); Canada Goose (36); Bald Eagle (3ad); Cooper's Hawk (3 just fledged yg, screaming and flying from tree to tree. In the exact area where they were last week. NB: originally we had misidentified these very young birds as Sharpies. Returning this week we noticed that the head looked a bit larger, and more importantly, in Sheila's photos, the iris was GRAY not Yellow. This would identify these birds as COOPER'S not SHARPIES.); Killdeer (15 at state trout farm); Ring-billed Gull (1); Mourning Dove (4); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1); Downy Woodpecker (1); Hairy Woodpecker (2); Pileated Woodpecker (2); E Wood Peewee (12); E Phoebe (1); E Kingbird (3); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Red-eyed Vireo (5); Blue Jay (7); A Crow (9); C Raven (2); Tree Swallow (8); Barn Swallow (6); Black-capped Chickadee (24); Red-breasted Nuthatch (16: this species has had a good year in central MA); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Brown Creeper (1); House Wren (2); Hermit Thrush (9 singing birds); A Robin (13); Gray Catbird (20); A Redstart (2); C Yellowthroat (9); Scarlet Tanager (2); E Towhee (16); Chipping Sparrow (3+1ad haunted by a begging yg cowbird); Indigo Bunting (2); Brown-headed Cowbird (see above); House Finch (4);
      RED CROSSBILL (minimally 4: we had 3 at the same spot and time that Larry Therrien had them: along the power lines . But also had single birds flying and calling at other spots in South Quabbin. Later in the day, we had another (2) in Shutesbury)
    American Goldfinch (13);
  • Other birds seen along the western Quabbin towns included Red-tailed Hawk (1);; Red-shouldered Hawk (1); and Broad-winged Hawk (4);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 8/4/12 -- Brookfields
    We spent Saturday morning birding a few stops in the QUABOG IBA in the Brookfields. Great Blue Heron (2); Great Egret (1: Lake Quabog. This bird has been here about a week); Turkey Vulture (2); Canada Goose (23); Wood Duck (1f); Am. Black Duck (1m); Mallard (5); Osprey (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (4, crossing the road at Elm Hill MAS); Wild Turkey (2); N Bobwhite (1 very tame, constantly calling bird seen, heard and photo'd at Elm Hill. Likely a game farm escape); Virginia Rail (1); Ring-billed Gull (5: L. Quabog); Mourning Dove (5); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (4); N Flicker (1); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (9: included 1ad being followed by 1 juv begging food); Willow Flycatcher (4); E Phoebe (18: included 2 groups of 1ad being followed by 3 begging yg); E Kingbird (7); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Warbling Vireo (2); Red-eyed Vireo (27); Blue Jay (24); A Crow (8); Tree Swallow (13); Barn Swallow (31: We had adults still flying in and out of 2 barns); Black-capped Chickadee (84); Tufted Titmouse (12); Red-breasted Nuthatch (18: including sev. "just fledged" birds); White-breasted Nuthatch (13); Carolina Wren (5); House Wren (7: including 1 just fledged bird with bright yellow gape and some downy feathers); E Bluebird (7); Hermit Thrush (6: all singing birds); A Robin (57); Gray Catbird (42: sev. birds still carrying food to nests); Cedar Waxwing (7); Yellow Warbler (4); Pine Warbler (3); C Yellowthroat (6); E Towhee (7); Chipping Sparrow (31); Song Sparrow (19); Swamp Sparrow (3); N Cardinal (22); Indigo Bunting (3); C Grackle (22); Baltimore Oriole (6); House Finch (12); A Goldfinch (27); Plus: 2 GIANT SWALLOWTAILS at Elm Hill. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    8/4/12 -- BJ's wholesale Club, Route 20, Auburn
    A few days ago we saw an Osprey fly over the parking lot and land on the cell tower behind the BJ's building in Auburn. We noticed a nest at that time but no other bird. Today we heard an Osprey call as we exited Home Depot(across the parking lot from BJ's) so we checked the cell tower and saw an adult with a young Osprey on the nest. We shop there fairly often and are surprised we missed an active nest! Eddy's Pond is a short distance from the tower. (report from Deb & Dan Berard).

    8/2/12 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    Highlights of an afternoon trip to Sterling Peat were: 1 Great Egret, 2 Green-winged Teal, 10-15 Solitary Sandpipers and 15-20 Least Sandpipers. Beavers have reduced the flow of water from the east side to the west side to a trickle. Without any rain the west side will be dry before the end of the month. (report from Bart Kamp).

    8/2/12 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    I visited Sterling Peat this afternoon from 4:30 to 6:30. Water levels were quite low with a decent number of shorebirds but not much variety. Many Killdeer, Least Sandpipers, a few Lesser Yellowlegs and also a Solitary Sandpiper. Also saw three Great Egrets, four Great blue herons and an adult Green Heron. (report from Josh Gahagan).

    For previous sightings, see July 2012 Archives or Archive Index