December 2004 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:

12/31/04 -- Lake Quinsigamond/Flint Pond, Shrewsbury, Worcester
  • There were 2 Peregrine Falcons on the Flagship Bank (downtown Worcester) this morning.
  • From there I went to Flint Pond down by the Irish Dam: 3 N. shovelers, 4 C. Goldeneye, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Carolina Wren,and 1 Red - bellied Woodpecker.
  • Checking Lake Quinsigamond, I was disappointed to see it frozen over at this point. However, as I backed my truck out I saw a large bird through my rear window; when I jumped out to see it an adult BALD EAGLE was flying down the lake! WOW! Farther down the lake I found some open water and saw 1 C. Loon, 2 Great Cormorant, 3 A. Coot, 11 Ring -neck Ducks,51 Common Goldeneye, 9 Hooded Merganser, 2 Mute Swans. (report from John Shea).

    • 12/31/04 -- Westboro Wildlife area, Westboro
    Today Kathie & I birded the Westboro Wildlife area off Lyman St. Despite the presence of hunters, we had a very nice morning. In addition to the usual suspects we had: hairy woodpecker, song sparrow (dozens), tree sparrow (dozens), white-throated sparrow (12+,) Carolina wren, Canada geese (300+). The sparrows were a real treat in a small cornfield and we were amazed at their numbers. We topped off the day with a trip to Lake Louise in Millford where we got the black-headed gull within 2 minutes. (report from Jim Hogan).

    12/30/04 -- Charlton
    I saw a Turkey Vulture in Charlton today. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

    12/28/04 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    Kim Kastler, Colin Bacchiocchi and I went to Sterling Peat today in search of Northern Shrike (NO). The only birds we had were Red-tailed Hawk (1), Blue Jay (2), and American Crow (1). However, we did get great sights of a Bobcat hunting during the day. This was a first for all three of us. (report from John Liller).

    12/26/04 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester
    From Lake Park on Lake Quinsigamond this morning I saw: 1 C. Loon, 3 N. Shovelers, 9 Ring-neck Ducks, 73 Common Goldeneye, 8 Common Merganser.Also on the lake were 3 Great Cormorants, 14 Hooded Merganser, 3 A. Coot. (report from John Shea).

    12/26/04 -- Gardner
    Paul Pinault and birded the north side of Gardner yesterday for the Westminster CBC, below is a complete list of our findings. Canada Goose 1; Ruffed Grouse 1; Wild Turkey 14; Great Black-backed Gull 85; Herring Gull 40; Rock Pigeon 150; Mourning Dove 22; Downy Woodpecker 11; Hairy Woodpecker 3; Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 after scoping some feeders the homeowner came out to restock the feeders and told us "there has been a Ladder-backed woodpecker coming to the feeders", she gave a perfect description of a Red-bellied but she was adamant on the Ladder-backed ID...we never did find the Ladder-backed but did find a Red-bellied Woodpecker next door...which saved me from having to eat my shorts. This address will forever (and fondly) be know as the "Ladder-backed Woodpecker spot"; Blue Jay 6; American Crow 59; Black-capped Chickadee 134; Tufted Titmouse 18; White-Br. Nuthatch 14; Re-breasted Nuthatch 1; Mockingbird 1; American Robin 3; Golden-crowned Kinglet 1; Cedar Waxwing 9; European Starling 55; House Sparrow 98; Northern Cardinal 14; Evening Grosbeak 1 heard flying over head; Purple Finch 12 together eating White Ash seeds from the tree; House Finch 9; American Goldfinch 26; Dark-eyed Junco 50; American Tree Sparrow 22; White-throated Sparrow 1; Song Sparrow 2; 31 species, 864 individuals. (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/25/04 -- Cedar Hill, Marlborough
    After putting the turkey in the oven, I took a walk around Cedar Hill, a Sudbury Valley Trustees property on the Marlborough, Northboro, Westborough line. To qote a familiar peom, "hardly a creature was stirring." It was very quiet with only a few Chickadees and a large flock of Canada Geese that flew over. There have been a few changes of note to the site. Firstly, there is now a new bridge over the small stream, that swells considerably at times becoming impassable, on the access trail from the Marlborough side (behind Scholastic Books). They have also taken advantage of the frozen groung to bring a "Brontosaurus Mower" up to the top of the hill. This machine mows bushes and small trees. They have greatly enlarged the clearing at the summit of Cedar Hill, mostly to the north and west. This project is to improve the habitat for birds such as Golden Winged Warbler, Towhee, Meadowlark and others and to improve the butterfly habitat as well. It will be interesting to check it out in the summer. (report from Laura Lane).

    12/24/04 -- Gardner
    A few hilights from this morning in gardner: Red-tailed Hawk 2 adults; Common Raven 3 Landfill; Iceland Gull 1 1st winter type at Parker's Pond; Robin 2; Cedar Waxwing 25. (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/24/04 -- Lower Blackstone National Corridor: RI
    Now here's something you don't see everyday: while conducting one of our bi-monthy surveys of the Seekonk River, we were parked on the boat ramp parking lot on the lower Pawtucket River (mouth of Seekonk River); in Pawtucket when we noticed a low flying raptor coming our way with something in it's talons. It was an immature PEREGRINE FALCON with a still "live and kickin'" RINGED TURTLE-DOVE. The falcon was having a very hard time, fluttering by rather low and trying to keep the dove still and not lose the bird. The falcon was flying so slow, we were able to get the pair in the scope and ID the dove. THEN, a resident RED-TAILED HAWK came by, zoomed towards the falcon, which then caused the inexperienced falcon to drop the dove in a small woodlot and take off. NOW, all the time that was going on, about 100 feet (or less); in back of us, in the same small lot, there was a DRUG BUST: with 4 cruisers, two unmarked cars, a guy in plain clothes who was probably the set up person, and a woman who had hidden the contraband and/or money in her pants, and they had to un-handcuff her so she could get the stuff out. We were so close, that we could hear EVERYTHING, which was very like being in the midst of a COPS episode, including a bit of what sounded like the classic "good cop/bad cop" routine. BUT WE KEEP COUNTING GULLS anyway, because we are SERIOUS BIRDERS. Such is urban birding!
  • CENTRAL POND/TURNER RESERVOIR (East Providence): Pied-billed Grebe (1); Great Cormorant (3); Mute Swan (11); Canada Goose (58); Mallard (42); A Black Duck (2); Canvasback (4); Ring-necked Duck (20); Greater Scaup (3); Lesser Scaup (31); Hooded Merganser (12); Common Merganser (12); Ruddy Duck (6); A Coot (7); Ring-billed Gull (44); Herring Gull (523); ICELAND GULL (2 imm); Great Black-backed Gull (14); Belted Kingfisher (1 w/sunfish); Fish Crow (23: at shopping center near Central Pond trailhead);
  • SEEKONK RIVER (from Bold Point to Pawtucket River: Providence/East Providence): Great Cormorant (5); Double-crested Cormorant (2imm); Mute Swan (11); Canada Goose (300); Mallard (233); A Black Duck (199); BLUE-WINGED TEAL (1m); Bufflehead (116); Common Goldeneye (31); Hooded Merganser (54); Common Merganser (14); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Merlin (1); Peregrine Falcon (1imm); "Ringed Turtle-Dove" (1); extremely likely escape Bonaparte's Gull (26); Ring-billed Gull (668); Herring Gull (319); Great Black-backed Gull (54); Belted Kingfisher (2); NOTA BENE: there was a boat with two duck hunters with decoys where the 10 Mile River empties into the Seekonk, extremely close or actually on the edge of the "off limits" area according to RI Dept of Fish and Game. PLUS: along Rt. 146, N Smithfield: BALD EAGLE (1imm); and hey kids: don't do drugs!! or at least don't do them on the boat ramp in East Providence. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 12/19/04 -- Westboro WMA,Westboro
    I walked around the Westboro Wildlife Management area Sunday afternoon in the "quiet before the storm". Highlights included: Canada Geese-7, Mute Swans-11, Mallard-4, Common Mergansers-2, Mourning Dove-70+, Downy Woodpecker-1, Blue Jays-3, BC Chickadees-5, Mockingbird-1, A. Tree Sparrow-26, White-throated sparrow-2, Juncos-30+, N. Cardinal-2, Red-winged Blackbird-3. Little Chaucy was completely frozen and Chauncey was mostly frozen with a couple of open water areas. The Common Mergansers had found a small piece of open water near the center. The Swans had a small open water area near the edge. The Red wings were a surprise and were with a flock of mixed sparrows that I flushed from some bushes at the edge of a field. (report from Laura Lane).

    12/19/04 -- East Waushacum, Sterling
    Among the gulls at East Waushacum in Sterling this afternoon were 3 first year Glaucous Gulls and 1 first year Iceland Gull. (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/18/04 -- Worcester CBC
    The 53rd annual Worcester Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 18th. Complete count results here (report from John Liller).

    12/16/04 -- Pearly Brook Reservoir, Gardner
    Chuck Caron called my last night to report a Glaucous Gull flying (with Great Black-backs) near Pearly Brook Reservoir in Gardner. I checked Crystal Lake, were the "local" gulls roost overnight, this morning and did find the subject bird (a pale imm. which could be a 2nd year type) Crystal Lake is now 99% ice covered but Chuck reported it was nearly 100% open yesterday afternoon 2:30PM. Also, there was a Raven flying along Rte 140 this morning being harassed by a crow. (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/14/04 -- 9th Sturbridge CBC
    We held the ninth Sturbridge CBC Tuesday, first day of the count period. Towns that are all or (most often) partly included in the circle include: the "Brookfields", Warren, Southbridge, Spencer, Charlton, Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland, Wales. Weather was partly cloudy and windy at times with temps from 24-36. Still, water was mostly open. The food crop was good overall (sumac, winterberry, bittersweet et) but local. Count details (report from Mark Lynch).

    12/12/04 -- Sudbury Reservoir, Southboro
    After visiting Fort Meadow Reservoir in Marlborough to see the Canvasbacks, I went to the Southborough portion of the Sudbury Reservoir in the hope of finding a Worcester County Canvasback. No Canvasback; but there were 200-300 Common Mergansers, a dozen Hooded Mergansers, 100-150 Ring-necked Ducks, 50-100 Common Goldeneyes and 1 Bufflehead. (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/12/04 -- Flint Pond, Shrewsbury
    On Flint Pond this morning I saw: 10 Hooded Merganser, 6 Common Merganser,12 Black Duck, 251 Mallards,31 Canada Geese, 11 Common Goldeneye,2 Mute Swans,17 Ring bill Gull, 1 Herring Gull. They lowered the pond for weed control. With all the rain last week the water is very high. Could this be why there are so many ducks? On Lake Quinsigamond I had 32 Mallards,11 Common Goldeneye,65 Canada Geese, 3 A. Coot,2 Great Cormorant,182 Ring bill Gulls,2 Mute Swans. (report from John Shea)

    12/12/04 -- ponds in Marlborough, Northboro, Westboro
    We birded several ponds in eastern Central MA this AM to count waterfowl before the big freeze comes tonite and the rest of this week:
  • FORT MEADOW RESERVOIR, MARLBOROUGH: Great Blue Heron (3); Mute Swan (1); Canada Goose (59); Mallard (46); Canvasback (6: yearly at this site); C Goldeneye (1); Hooded Merganser (46); Common Merganser (38); Ruddy Duck (99: this is the best site for this species in central MA); A Coot (3);
  • WILLIAMS LAKE, MARLBOROUGH: Hooded Merganser (8); Common Merganser (6);
  • BARTLETT POND, NORTHBORO: Mute Swan (7: Mutes have made real inroads in eastern Central MA as a breeding species, unfortunately, and are now regular in selected ponds in Marlborough, Westboro, Northboro and Southboro); Canada Goose (57); Mallard (12); Hooded Merganser (1);
  • LITTLE CHAUNCY POND, NORTHBORO: Mute Swan (3); Mallard (3); freshly butchered deer right where you park your car (1);. Yuck
  • WESTBORO WMA (impoundment between the two Chauncy's. The sparrow numbers were typical for this time of the year);: Canada Goose (19 overhead); Mallard (2); KILLDEER (1: good bird for the interior this late in the year);: Mourning Dove (206); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (2); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Cedar Waxwing (15); N Mockingbird (5); Northern Shrike (1imm: almost yearly at this location); N Cardinal (11); Tree Sparrow (21); Swamp Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (2); White-throated Sparrow (6); Dark-eyed Junco (22); Purple Finch (1); A Goldfinch (27);
  • CHAUNCY POND, WESTBORO: Canada Goose (6); Hooded Mergnaser (1); Common Mergnaser (578: this large flock was getting rather restless and as we watched, groups of birds started to leave (though still leaving hundreds behind);, perhaps in anticipation of the colder weather tonite and the pond freezing over);
  • SuAsCo impoundment, WESTBORO: Canada Goose (33); Mallard (6); Hooded Merganser (58); Common Merganser (2);
  • NOTE: An interesting behavior we noted at Fort Meadow, Williams, Chauncy and SuAsCo ponds was the presistant attempts of Ring-billed Gulls to kleptoparasitize fish from especially Hooded but also Common Mergansers. The gulls would hover over diving birds and when they surfaced with fish, the gulls would thne aggressively dive at the mergs trying to force them to drop the stunned fish. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 12/11/04 -- All Faith's (New Swedish) cemetery, Worcester
    Some nice birds at All Faiths this morning: 6 A. wigeon, 3 Green wing Teal, 18 Mallards, 2 Black Ducks, 2N. Pintail 1m.,1f., 50 Canada Geese, 11 Hooded Merganser,2 Mute Swans and in the dump on the left as you go in 1 Field Sparrow in with song, White Throated Sparrows and many Junco. (report from John Shea).

    12/11/04 -- Woonsocket/Cumberland Reservoirs, RI
    A quick survey of these two reservoirs in the Blackstone National Corridor had the following:
  • WOONSOCKET RESERVOIR (Lincoln/Smithfield): Canada Goose (25); Green-winged Teal (1m); Mallard (2); Common Goldeneye (1); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (19); Red-bellied Woodepcker (1); COMMON RAVEN (1: on a sandbar, on some small carcass, calling off and on the entire time we were there);
  • ARNOLD'S MILL/DIAMOND HILL RESERVOIRS (Cumberland): Snow Goose (1imm); Canada Goose (75); Ring-necked Duck (4); Common Goldeneye (4); Hooded Merganser (1); Common Merganser (22); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 12/10/04 -- Leesville Pond/All Faiths Cemetery
    I was surprised at the variety of waterfowl, most located in the cove on the right just before the cemetery entrance. In the drizzle today were: 26 American Wigeon, 12 Hooded Mergansers, 8 Green-winged Teal, 1 pair Northern Pintail, 1 Gadwall, 2 Mute Swans, 17 Mallards, 39 Canadian Geese, 1 pair American Black Ducks, 1 Wood Duck, 8 Tree Sparrows, 2 Song Sparrows, 15 Juncos, and 1 Red-tailed Hawk. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    10/9/04 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    At Sterling Peat today in/from the area with the bushes with the red berries I saw 8 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Flicker, 3 Blue Jays, 2 Mockingbirds, 5 Robins, 2 BALTIMORE ORIOLES, 6 House Finches, 5 Goldfinches, 1 White -throated Sparrow and 40 Tree Sparrows. (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/9/04 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner
    This morning there was a nice raft of 132 Common Mergansers on the lake in calm conditions, allowing me hear their low murmuring "conversations". (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/8/04 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
    There were 51 Greater Scaup and 3 Lesser Scaup here today. (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/7/04 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner
    This morning there was a raft of approx. 110 Common Mergansers on Crystal Lake. There was 2 young Herring Gulls trying to pirate a meal from the mergs.. The only other birds seen were about 60 Greater Black-backed Gulls loafing at the far end of the lake. (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/6/04 -- lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
    Today on lake Quinsigamond I saw :27 Common Goldeneye, 9 Common Merganser, 2 Mute Swans and many Mallards. (report from John Shea).

    12/5/04 -- South Quabbin Park, Quabbin Reservoir
    We spent the morning birding Quabbin Park/South Quabbin (off Rt. 9);. Loons and eagles were obvious, BUT: Landbirds were in very short supply: NO winter finches, NO Red-breasted Nuthatches, few jays and actually few other landbirds other than Chickadees. Waterfowl were likewise in poor numbers and variety with NO mergs what so ever, surprsing at this time of the year. Many of the small to medium ponds here are now covered with skim ice. A later trip up the west side of Quabbin, poking into areas in Pelham, South New Salem, New Salem and Petersham revealed more of the same: few juncos, no bluebirds or robins either. The food crop appears to be local and sparse at least in these areas. Total lists follows
  • South Quabbin: Common Loon (7); Horned Grebe (1: these seem to be in lower than typical numbers inland this fall); Long-tailed Duck (3); Bald Eagle (3ad+2imm); Ring-billed Gull (5 heading east); Downy Woodpecker (1); Black-capped Chickadee (32); Tufted Titmouse (4); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); Blue Jay (3); American Crow (6); Common Raven (1); Golden-crowned Kinglet (1); Tree Sparrow (1); Dark-eyed Junco (10); A Goldfinch (1);
  • PELHAM OVERLOOK: Bald Eagle (1ad); GOLDEN EAGLE (1ad: great views in great light as it soared over the Pelham side of Prescott); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Ring-billed Gull (36 heading west); Common Raven (minally 6); SOUTH NEW SALEM: Winter Wren (1);
  • NEW SALEM: Lover's Leap Overlook: Red-tailed Hawk (2); Great Black-backed Gull (1adW heading south); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 12/5/04 -- Rt. 56/airport overlook, Leicester
    We scoped out this overlook late, late in the afternoon just to make sure no Short-eareds were working the runways. They weren't. All we had were: Red-tailed Hawk (1); Ring-billed Gull (19); Herring Gull (7); Great Black-backed Gull (2); A Robin (62); Common Grackle (4); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    12/4/04 -- Turner Reservoir/Seekonk River, RI
    We conducted one of our "twice a month" surveys of these two areas which comprise the southern terminus of the Blackstone National Corridor. Waterfowl numbers were low compared with other counts at similar times from years past. One reason certainly was the two duck hunters we saw in a canoe on the Seekonk firing at flocks of ducks and geese just off the Swan Point Cemetery/Pawtucket line. At one point they were firing right towards the private cemetery north of Swan Point! We were on the East Providence shore at the time, and did tell police, who basically did nothing (hey, they were firing into Providence!); If any birders know where or to whom to report incidents like this, let me know.
  • CENTRAL POND/TURNER RESERVOIR, E. PROVIDENCE: Pied-billed Grebe (1); Double-crested Cormorant (5); Great Blue Heron (1); Mute Swan (25); Canada Goose (113); Gadwall (10); Mallard (82); A Black Duck (18); Ring-necked Duck (11); Lesser Scaup (13); Greater Scaup (4); Bufflehead (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Mergnaser (10); Ruddy Duck (43); Red-tailed Hawk (2); A Coot (1: very low); Ring-billed Gull (73); Herring Gull (484); Great Black-backed Gull (73: no sign here today of the Iceland and Lesser Black-backed Gulls that we had during the Corridor-wide waterfowl count two weeks ago); Fish Crow (31: large numbers hanging around the woods and shopping areas near the Central Pond trail head);
  • SEEKONK RIVER: FROM BOLD POINT-PAWTUCKET RIVER: Great Cormorant (1); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (154: these were flushed over our heads by the hunters, so we were able to count them. Many more Mallards and Blacks headed up river, out of sight and uncounted); Mallard (93); A Black Duck (58); Bufflehead (143); Hooded Merganser (30); Common Merganser (4); Bonaparte's Gull (23); Black-headed Gull (1adW); Ring-billed Gull (417); Herring Gull (122); Lesser Black-backed Gull (1adW); Great Black-backed Gull (65); Belted Kingfisher (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • For previous sightings, see November 2004 Archives or Archive Index