CORRIDOR COORDINATED NIGHTHAWK WATCH NARRATIVES:

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27:

1. TIME: 5PM-7:40PM

OBSERVERS: Mark Lynch; Sheila Carroll, Chris Ellison; Bart Kamp; Olyssa Starry; Kyle Meister.

WEATHER: Mostly clear; temps low80s-low60s; winds: SSW 10mph.+

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS: 482: Another interesting night with small groups moving throughout the watch. Several groups behaved much like kettling Broad-winged Hawks, forming kettles that rose up and then birds peeled off. Flight was direct or direct with some feeding. Overall most birds went to the south or north of the hill, most heading west or southwest. A nice flock flew relatively low right overhead (c.7:10PM) heading directly SW.

OTHER BIRDS:

Double-crested Cormorant (1)

Great Blue Heron (2)

Turkey Vulture (2)

Mallard (2)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (3)

Cooper's Hawk (1)

Red-tailed Hawk (2)

A Kestrel (3)

Wild Turkey (5)

Killdeer (3)

Chimney Swift (20)

Tree Swallow (11)

Barn Swallow (31)

Blue Jay (1)

A Crow (12)

A Robin (60+)

Cedar Waxwing (23)

Bobolink (21)

C Grackle (31)

PLUS: a few migrating Monarchs.

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2. Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester

Time:5:30-7:30. Weather:Clear; Wind: SSW; 10-15 MPH; Temp. 70-65.

Observers: Fran McMenemy, Joan Zumpfe, Rick, Barbara, and Mike Walker.

Nighthawks: 31 mostly moving South, Mourning Dove 12, Chimney Swift 36, American Crow 8, European Starling 150, Common Grackle 30.

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3. Subject: Grafton H.S. - 8/27/05
DATE: 8/27/05
TIME: 5:00PM-7:45PM
OBSERVERS: John Liller, Kim Kastler, Colin Bacchiocchi
WEATHER: Fair; 80s+70s, winds from southwest (10+mph)

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS (59 - It looked like a bust until after we were starting to pack up.  Then we nearly doubled our numbers.  Many of the birds were moving north until just before 7:00, and there was little feeding behavior.  After 7:30, we had 23 moving south to southwest along the ridge to the west of the Quinsigamond River.)
CHIMNEY SWIFT (36)
TREE SWALLOW (13)
BARN SWALLOW (17)

OTHER BIRDS:
Double-crested Cormorant (1)
Cooper's Hawk (1)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1)
Red-tailed Hawk (2)
Ring-billed Gull (3)
Killdeer (8)
Mourning Dove (15)
Downy Woodpecker (1)
Eastern Kingbird (1)
Blue Jay (1)
American Crow (1)
American Robin (4)
European Starling (115)
Cedar Waxwing (7)
Red-winged Blackbird (302)
Common Grackle (56)
House Finch (1)
American Goldfinch (4)
House Sparrow (9)

4. DATE: Sat 8/27/05

LOCATION: West Hill Dam, Uxbridge, MA

TIME PERIOD: 5:15-7:30PM

OBSERVERS: Russ Holden, Nicole Wenger, Paul and Beth Milke, Jordan Musante

WEATHER: Clear, light wind from the SW

TIME 1st CONI: 6:50PM

TOTAL #CONI: 12 -- in groups of 3 or 4

DIRECTION: NW to E, circling, gradually moving off to SE; last three

flew over us and moved directly S

BEHAVIOR: First two groups circled for 10-15 mins., eating among

large numbers of chimney swifts

OTHER BIRDS: Hundreds of chimney swifts circling and feeding (near the

dam and above the trees in the distance); several barn

swallows, American crows and robins; a dozen mourning doves. Other

than the nighthawks, none appeared to be migrating.

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5. Saturday night 8/27

Tried Thompson Ct (NE corner)

5pm temp 79 wind 5 mph out of the SW clear

5:40 1 to the south of us moving W maybe from RI

6:20 moved to Town Hall across from the French River

13 flying W but north of our location

moved again

to Southbridge near the jct of rte 131 and 169

7:00 20 feeding to the W heading sw

7:15 4 heading sw

7:25 (19) 6 headng sw 4 feeding and 9 heading s

7:30 2 heading w

7:45 1 feeding heading s

temp at this time 74 wind 2mph out of the SW clear

Deb and Dan

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6. Quaboag river kayak trip. 8/27/05

The nighthawks appear to be coming both from the north west and north east

and following the lakes (Quaboag, Quaqumquasit and Cedar) into the center of

Sturbridge. Then they seem to follow the Quinebaug river in both directions

south. Some heading South East through Southbridge and others South West

through the 5 bridge area and down along the chain of lakes through Holland

and into Stafford CT.

70 Common night hawks (Migrating)

2 Red tail hawks

8 American goldfinch

3 American crows

2 Mourning doves

110 Tree swallows (feeding)

36 Barn swallows (feeding)

1 great Horned Owl

2 shore birds did a low fly by at dusk looked like either wood cock or snipe

11 wax cedar wings (feeding)

86 Grackles (Migrating)

2 red wing bb

2 great blue in the river

5 mallards

2 beavers

1 water snake

1 muskrat

7. From Rhode Island: In addition to reports filed with Mike Lynch last week,

I report that on Friday evening 8/26 I arrived at Zambarano Hospital,

Burrillville, RI, and scope-scanned northwest and northeast horizons over

Wallum Lake from the hospital's observation deck. No nighthawks observed

from 6 - 6:30 p.m. At 7:00 driving east on Rt. 44, Glocester, about one

mile east of Chepachet (Glocester) I saw one flying west about 30' over

trees. I stopped and about 4 minutes later 2 more flew also headed west.

At intersection/ ramp of 44 & I-295 (Smithfield), 7:18 p.m., 2 nighthawks

flying south, southwest; one dipped in foraging move. Total 8/26=5.

8/27 Chopmist Hill, RI (Rt. 6 & 102) few minutes of observation revealed no

birds. Drove to Barden Reservoir & Central Pike (in Foster, south & west of

102-6 intersection). Observed from causeway. In addition to Barred owl and

kingfisher calls, saw 2 GBH foraging, an accipiter, eastern kingbirds and

the obligatory goose pair, and observed 17 nighthawks, flying in groups of

1 - 3 between 7:15 and 7:46 p.m. The first 14 were flying south-southwest

over the ridge on the east shore of the reservoir. The last 3 headed west

over the north arm of the reservoir. (7:15, 1; 7:25, 3; 7:29, 2; 7:33, 2 +

2, one of these veered west; all the preceding were flying straight at about

100' over trees; 7:40, 3 at lower altitude 25' over trees foraging on

southerly direction; 7:41, 1 foraging, southerly; 7:45, 2 flying west; 7:46

1, flying west.)

Unable to see anything from my patch of sky in Providence on Sunday evening.

Other obligations.

Eugenia Marks, Audubon Soc. RI

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28:

1. TIME: 5:00-7:30 P.M.

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS: 73

DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT: South

BEHAVIOR: The birds viewed actively fed and migrated.

LOCAL WEATHER: Intermittent showers followed steady

rain. Conditions then extremely overcast and cool,

with air temperature 62 degrees. Winds emanated

primarily from the south and southeast.

OBSERVERS: Chris Ellison

Bruce De Graaf

Dan & Deb Berard

Arriving at the observation site shortly before 5:00

P.M. in a drenching downpour did little to inspire

confidence in viewing any avifauna at all, let alone

noteworthy numbers of Common Nighthawks. A bedraggled

Gray Catbird announced itself upon my arrival. A

meager band of raucous Blue Jays winged their way west

over the roof of my car as I struggled to view the

generous expanse of horizon through a steady rain.

Mourning Doves thrust themselves aloft as I briefly

hiked southwards along the soft sand and gravel

shoulder of Route 56.

The arrival of Bruce De Graaf heralded a significant

improvement in conditions, and we were soon savoring

the spectacle of approximately 50 Common Nighthawks

streaming out of the northeast, feeding actively and

pushing steadily southwards. These birds provided

first-rate viewing, ample mouths agape as they engaged

in effortless acrobatics. Dan and Deb Berard appeared

soon afterwards. Dan deftly spotted a compact flock

of Red-winged Blackbirds sprinting westwards directly

overhead. Deb observed several deer feeding in the

open field immediately adjacent to the chain link

fence on the south side of the runway. A paltry

number of Chimney Swifts darted erratically above

them. An additional flock of twenty-three Common

Nighthawks appeared over the microwave tower situated

to the southeast of Route 56, and looped west. These

birds proved quite challenging to count, dodging

erratically in and out of the dense fog and 1,000-foot

cloud cover. A lone Great Blue Heron on the southern

horizon provided welcome relief to eyes thirsty for a

readily discernable avian shape. A pudgy buteo

perched upon the chain link fence closest to the

airport runway and running parallel to it was cause

for a considerable degree of squinting through a

spotting scope. Prolonged study revealed a Red-tailed

Hawk. Meandering Wild Turkeys occasioned the presence

of a lone airport official in a white SUV at the end

of the runway. A lone American Kestrel situated

itself atop the barbed wire fence closest to the deer.

An extremely vocal flock of Bobolinks materialized

out of the mist, headed northeast. Significant

numbers of Cedar Waxwings mounted spirited flycatching

efforts. American Robins appeared in steadily

increasing numbers towards sunset, headed northeast

into the dense woods overlooking the airport hangar.

Many thanks to the congenial Bruce De Graff and Dan

and Deb Berard for their patience and sharp eyes!

OTHER SPECIES

American Crow 2

American Goldfinch 5

American Kestrel 1

American Robin 63

Blue Jay 9

Bobolink 52

Cedar Waxwing 38

Chimney Swift 8

Common Grackle 20

Double-crested Cormorant 3

Gray Catbird 2

Great Blue Heron 1

Mallard 3

Mourning Dove 5

Red-tailed Hawk 1

Red-winged Blackbird 11

Tree Swallow 8

Wild Turkey 11

MAMMALS:

White-tailed Deer 6

ODONATES:

Common Green Darner 26

LEPIDOPTERA:

Monarch Butterfly 1

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2. `I joined Joan Zumpfe at Notre Dame Cemetery at 5:30 PM.

Joan said that there had been some flying ants in Dudley when she left. It was raining lightly when I arrived at the cemetery and there were heavy dark clouds to the North and West. We saw no Nighthawks in 45 minutes. Because there was some bright sky way to the South East, we decided to move to the Blackstone Valley Cinema parking lot in Milbury.  From this parking lot, looking even further to the South East, we were able to see two large flocks of Nighthawks feeding in circles. The total number of birds in these two flocks was over Four hundred.  

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3. Subject: Grafton H.S. - 8/28/05
DATE: 8/28/05
TIME: 5:50PM-7:40PM
OBSERVERS: John Liller, Kim Kastler, Colin Bacchiocchi
WEATHER: Cloudy, occasional sprinkles + 2 showers, 70s, light winds from south

When we first arrived, there were over 100 Chimney Swifts feeding in a small area over Lake Ripple, with 11 nighthawks feeding amongst them.  We thought it was going to be a good night, but it ended up being an OK night.  

The nighthawks (as well as swifts and swallows) seem to feed/move along two different ridge lines on either side of the high school.  The first is west of the Quinsigamond River and the second is east along Rt. 140, including over Grafton Center.  There seems to be little connection between the groups that travel along these ridges, at least in sight of the high school.

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS (67, with much feeding along the ridges, and post-feeding movement to the south and south-southwest)
CHIMNEY SWIFT (162)
TREE SWALLOW (6)
BARN SWALLOW (75 - much movement to the south-southeast)

OTHER BIRDS:
Canada Goose (57)
Double-crested Cormorant (1)
Ring-billed Gull (1)
Killdeer (18)
Mourning Dove (10)
Belted Kingfisher (1)
Downy Woodpecker (1)
Eastern Kingbird (2)
Blue Jay (2)
American Crow (4)
Tufted Titmouse (3)
American Robin (12)
European Starling (114)
Cedar Waxwing (5)
Red-winged Blackbird (165)
Common Grackle (126)
House Finch (5)
American Goldfinch (5)
House Sparrow (13)

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4. DATE: 8/28/05

LOCATION: West Hill Dam, Uxbridge

TIME: 7:00-7:30PM

OBSERVERS: Paul and Beth Milke

WEATHER: Overcast with some low clouds and a few breaks, following two

brief showers

75 degrees, calm

NIGHTHAWKS: 4, in two groups of two, flying south; no circling to feed

OTHER BIRDS: 5 chimney swifts, 6 European starlings

5. NIGHTHAWKS-WATERS FARM, SUTTON, MA-Sunday, August 28

I covered Waters Farm in Sutton on Sunday evening from 4:45-7:00 PM. It was

overcast with a few light showers and winds from the south-southeast. A

total of 78 nighthawks were observed. From 4:45-5:00 there were 7

nighthawks spotted feeding overhead. From 5:00-5:15 a flock of 40 appeared,

circled overhead feeding. They then moved north beyond the farm and stopped

to mill about and feed before heading off in an east-southeast direction.

Between 5:30 and 5:45 a flock of 31 appeared and followed the same pattern

as the previous flock except they exited the scene heading north. After

5:45 no other nighthawks were seen. In addition to nighthawks there was

1-chimney swift and 10-barn swallows most of which were moving

southeasterly.

Phil Guerin

6. TIME: 5:15-7PM.

OBSERVERS: Mark Lynch, Sheila Carroll

WEATHER: mostly solid overcast; rain had just past. Humid (80 degrees) almost no wind from the SW.

ABOUT THE SITE: Durfee Hill WMA is well-known to RI birders as a place to look for nesting species like Black-throated Green Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo. It has been one of the best places in RI to look for Pileated Woodpecker. It is very close to the Connecticut border. Though it is definitely part of the Blackstone National CORRIDOR NATIONAL PARK it is not technically part of the Blackstone WATERSHED. Though we had birded there many times, this is our first nighthawk watch there. We birded from the upper parking lot on Rt.94, atop a small hill, which has only a middlin' view of the sky to the south, west and north. A bonus was that the small woodland pond, visible from the small lot, had been drained and there were some shorebirds. We also tried a few areas en route going and coming with no luck including Bowditch Reservoir, Jackson Schoolhouse Road et)

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS (6 : we had our first at 6:14 and the rest followed within ten minutes. All birds were low ("naked eye birds") and all headed directly SW. It's tough to judge this spot as a nighthawk watch spot as the night itself was not a stellar night for migrants with the rain and weak front passing west to east. We also had another (1) Common Nighthawk flying southwest low at 7:40 in Douglas Center. It's interesting, but so far, I have read no triple digit counts for south Worcester County or RI this year)

OTHER BIRDS:

Canada Goose (9 overhead and another 31 at the nearby Elementary School)

Cooper's Hawk (1ad hunting the forest right in front of us)

Killdeer (1)

Lesser Yellowlegs (1)

Solitary Sandpiper (3)

Least Sandpiper (13)

Great Black-backed Gull (1)

Chimney Swift (25 migrating south and west)

Barn Swallow (3 migrating SW)

House Wren (1)

Gray Catbird (2)

Cedar Waxwing (10: some flycatching quite high.)

Baltimore Oriole (1)

PLUS: Katydids and Gray Tree Frogs calling; (1) dead Cicada.

Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll

moa.lynch@verizon.net