December 2005 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:

12/31/05 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester
We had 2 flocks of Canadian Geese noisily splash down right in front of us. There were 128 geese. 18 Hooded Mergansers, 6 Common Mergansers, 8 Green-winged Teal, 1 Greater Blacked-Backed Gull, 13 Mourning Doves, and 1 Northern Mockingbird. Hundreds of Crows were arriving apparently to roost. At Notre Dame Cemetery, 1 pair Northern Pintail, 16 Hooded Mergansers, 4 Black Ducks, and no sign of the Wood Duck I saw here last on Dec. 25. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

12/29/05 -- Wachusett Meadows Sancutary, Princeton
Saw a screech owl and a ruffed grouse today at Wachusett Meadow on the Summit Trail. Story here.
(report from Whit Andrews).

12/28/05 -- Leesville Pond, All Faiths Cemetery and Flint Pond, Worcester/Shrewsbury
In the small amount of open water on the right side as you enter the cemetery, there were 3 green-winged teal and 2 mallards. On the other side, that is mostly open, there were 5 common mergansers, 12 hooded mergansers and 1 Canada goose. Scoping the southern part of Flint pond from the small dam there were 7 mute swans, 8 common goldeneyes, 6 mallards, 4 hooded mergansers and many ring-billed gulls. At the boat ramp parking lot there was a northern flicker and a red-tailed hawk. (report from Alan Marble).

12/24/05 -- Seekonk River, RI
We did a standard point count of the Seekonk River between Providence and East Providence. Numbers were "off" mainly because of duck hunting. At one point, we were standing WITH the East Providence Police who were radio-ing to headquarters becasue two hunters (south of the Henderson Bridge) were shooting away, In fact, according to the latest regs, it is only illegal to hunt from between the Henderson Bridge north to the 10 Mile River outlet and then only discharging firearms "seaward", which I guess means down river. What with all the parks extant and new construction going on along the river, I am amazed you can still hunt essentially right next to where folks are tossing a frisbee to their dog. Oh, well...Many of the gulls and ducks we could see at a distance were flushed off the river by the time we got to where we could count them. Double-crested Cormorant (9); Great Cormorant (4); Great Blue Heron (1); Mute Swan (only 4); Canada Goose (128: most heading out); A Wigeon (6); Gadwall (1); Mallard (116); A Black Duck (13: amazingly low); Greater Scaup (2); Bufflehead (146); Common Goldeneye (31); Hooded Merganser (46); Common Merganser (7); Ruddy Duck (46); Cooper's Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (4: including one bird that we virtually walked right under as it perched on a low branch (c.20' up); as it mantled a Gray Squirrel); Black-headed Gull (1adW); Bonaparte's Gull (22); Ring-billed Gull (530); Herring Gull (210); Great Black-backed Gull (44); A Coot (1); E. Screech Owl (3); Belted Kingfisher (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (4); N Flicker (4); A Robin (166: many in Swan Point);
Earlier we had birded the two adjacent reservoirs in extreme NE Cumberland (Arnold's Mills/Diamond Hill);. Diamond Hill was 65% ice covered and Arnold's almost 100% ice covered. As a matter of fact, there was an enclave of ICE FISHERMEN out on Arnold's Mills, even though it is posted as definitely NO TRESSPASSING with large fines. The only waterfowl were: Mallard (1); Common Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (2); We also had: Carolina Wren (3), A Robin (18), Cedar Waxwing (13), Fox Sparrow (2). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

12/23/05 -- Holden
The Barred Owl continues to be a presence in our backyard and our neighbor's. We also have a Sharpie that is intent on feasting on the sparrows in our neighbors' shrubs' . Finally, there appears to be a Red-Tailed Hawk which has created a territoral area in our area. While these predator birds are around, they are not disturbing the casual feeding birds. Cardinals, Nuthatches, Sparrows, and Titmouses who continue daily flybyes. (report from Steve Olson).

12/23/05 -- Orange/Quabbin Reservoir/Brookfield
  • We watched the the BOREAL CHICKADEE at the feeder in Orange (very co-operative mid-morning and viewed it for 15+ minutes spending time at almost all the feeders: quite aggressive too, we watched it repeatedly chase off Black-cappeds)
  • Then we headed south to Quabbin Park (South Quabbin). Though the "big water" was still open at this end, there were very few birds in evidence. But we did see: Common Loon (1); Horned Grebe (1); Bald Eagle (2ad+1 1stW: one adult put on a nice show at the Administration Building by flying very close right across our field of view and perching in the trees on the left); Ring-billed Gull (2); Common Raven (2); Eastern Bluebird (1). A mere handful of winter regulars made up the rest of the list: Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, both nuthatches, Tree Sparrow. It could be a tough count December 31 for those of us IN the Quabbin Reservation.
  • We then headed home via Elm Hill MAS in Brookfield to "try" for the 2 SANDHILL CRANES found by Val Miller and James Smith on last weeks' Sturbridge CBC. We dipped on them, but I do want to encourage folks to keep looking. The area of "the Brookfields" is one that has many choice farm fields and many tracts of marshland, especially along the Quabog River and only a small amount of these spots are visible from roads. It is VERY possible these birds are still in the area and they only soemtimes fly from one spot to the next. BTW: check the Western Mass "where to find" guide (Jan Ortiz Editor) for directions to Quabbin park and various spots in the Brookfields.
    (report from Mark Lynch).

    • 12/23/05 -- Orange
    The Boreal Chickadee is still showing at 19 Sandra Drive in Orange. My wife and I had it a bit before noon today. It was at the suet feeders at the right side of the house, as well as in the spruces across the street (eating snow!). It's a short and pleasant ride for a nice bird. (report from Howard Shainheit).

    12/22/05 -- Lake Quinsigamond & Flint Pond, Shrewsbury
    Barry Van Dusen and I birded Flint Pond, Lake Quinsigamond and the small/dinky pond off Lake Street and Grove Street in Shrewsbury today. Our target birds were the Redheads and Gadwalls that were seen during the Worcester CBC on Saturday, 12/17/2006. We started with the dinky pond. It was still open despite the cold weather this week, but there were no Gadwalls or other ducks there although we got great views of a Carolina Wren that was hanging around the pond. Next we birded the south side of Flint Pond near Creeper Hill Road and got great looks at a Wood Duck that was feeding, and even diving, with a mixed group of American Black Ducks and Mallards, south of the small dam. There were also 3 Hooded Mergansers, one Common Goldeneye, a half dozen Mute Swans and two American Tree Sparrows feeding along the edge on the west side of the pond.

    We then proceeded north along Lake Ave in Worcester to look for the Redheads that had been feeding along the west shore of Lake Quinsigamond, north of Route 9 and Regatta State Park. The western part of the lake was now frozen but we easily located the pair of Redheads feeding along the eastern shore in a cove about 400-500 feet north of Route 9. They were with a group of Mallards, a Common Goldeneye and what I later determined was a Lesser Scaup. We also found Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Ducks, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls in a few fairly small open areas of the lake. Next we proceeded around the north end of the lake and found a few American Black Ducks and more Mallards in the still north-most portions of the lake north of Main Street in Shrewsbury. We then proceeded back south on North Quinsigamond Ave and were able to locate the cove where the Redheads were feeding and got excellent views of the birds. When we got back to my car, a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew into a tree just in front of the car to top off the day. I suspect the Redheads will be there for a while longer. (report from Bruce deGraaf).

    12/20/05 -- Quinebaug River, Sturbridge
    Today I was working with a contractor in Sturbridge in a remote area along the Quinebaug River and we saw a mature Bald Eagle flying down river at about 09:15. We were less than 200 feet away and it was at tree top level in the bright sun. I knew right then I was going to have a great day! (report from Pat Tetreault).

    12/20/05 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Migrating today were: 
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              1
Turkey Vulture               0              0            249
Osprey                       0              0            150
Bald Eagle                   0              4             70
Northern Harrier             0              1             40
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0              4           1098
Cooper's Hawk                0              4             87
Northern Goshawk             0              1              6
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              1             65
Broad-winged Hawk            0              0          16896
Red-tailed Hawk              1             65            798
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              4
Golden Eagle                 0              0              4
American Kestrel             0              0            132
Merlin                       0              0             47
Peregrine Falcon             0              1              9
Unknown                      0              1             52

Total:                       1             82          19708
----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Observers: Barton D. Kamp, David Grant, Donna Schilling
    Raptor Observations: Not migrating: 4 redtails and 1 adult northern goshawk.
    This is the last day of fall hawk watch.
    (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/19/05 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester
    The beavers have expanded their dam and there is more deeper water and faster currents and open water. A pair of Northern Pintails with a few Mallards landed in some open water in front of me while I stood still in the bushes, close to dusk. A male Wood Duck arrived a moment later. There was a Great Blue Heron. Suprisingly, no Black Ducks. There were 12 Canadian Geese, one of them had a bright yellow band around it's neck with black capital letters in a few rows that read OMC. 4 Hooded Mergansers, and 3 Gold-crowned Kinglets. Also about 75 Crows going to roost in the direction of Hope Cemetery. (report from Brian Mulhearn).

    12/18/05 -- West Millbury
    Had a female yellow-bellied sapsucker on the suet this morning and 6 house finches for the first time this winter. A red-bellied woodpecker and Carolina wren are regulars. (report from Alan Marble).

    12/17/05 -- Worcester CBC
    Here are the results for the Worcester CBC (report from John Liller).

    12/15/05 -- Millbury bikepath
    Birds of note on or along the Blackstone this afternoon: 1 male northern pintail, 1 male belted kingfisher, 1 great blue heron, 4 male common mergansers, 21 black ducks, 18 hooded mergansers, 40+ mallards, 17 Canada geese, 1 cooper's hawk, 2 red-tailed hawks, 8 tree sparrows and 13 song sparrows. (report from Alan Marble).

    12/14/05 -- Sturbridge CBC
    On Wednesday we held the 10th STURBRIDGE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT. Weather conditions were tough. When Sheila and I started out in the morning, the temps were a "bracing" MINUS 9 degrees and it stayed cold throughout the day. Because of the recent snow storm, there was 8-12 inches of hard snow on the ground, which is very unusual for this count. The sub-freezing temps had frozen most of the still water, a critical habitat in this circle. Amazingly, South Pond, AKA Quacumquasit, was ice free. Even rivers like the Quabog had some ice on them, something I had also never before seen on this count. Not suprisingly, waterbird numbers and variety were on the low side. Despite all this, birders managed to tally 77 species for the day, including 4 species new for the Count Circle. Though this total number of species is somewhat higher than the mean number of species seen on this count, the total number of individuals was the second lowest ever recorded.
    Complete bird list here
    (report from Mark Lynch).

    12/14/05 -- Broad Meadow Brook, Worcester
    I parked at Holy Name High School and walked by a very large Crabapple Tree which was loaded with Robins and Cedar Waxwings. I saw 4 Robins and 2 Waxwings fly across Granite St. and in to the Audubon Sanctuary. Also at Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary were 2 Great Blue Herons, still here amid the diminishing open water. There was 1 at each end of "the stretch". Also of note were 6 Tree Sparrows and 4 Song Sparrows. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    12/11/05 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
    Highlights this afternoon at Bolton Flats: Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Northern Flicker 1, Northern Shrike 1, American Tree Sparrow 60, Song Sparrow 5 Swamp Sparrow 2, Red-winged Blackbird 19. The sharp-shinned caught a tree sparrow from the edge of the flock. The shrike was an immature with a barred breast and brown-black, poorly delineated lore and eye patch. (report from Andrea Burke).

    12/11/05 -- Hager Pond, Marlboro
    Colin Bacchiocchi and I ventured over to Hager Pond in Marlboro this morning to check for the Cackling Goose, and had success. He took photo #1 and photo #2 and I took photo #3 . (report from John Liller).

    12/11/05 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Migrating today were: Bald Eagle 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk 3 .
    Official Counter: David Grant
    Raptor Observations: Sub-adult bald eagle. Non-raptor Observations: 1 northern shrike. (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/11/05 -- Baldwinville
    Highlights this morning: Canada Goose 90; Mallard 65; Black Duck 9; Hooded Merganser 1; Red-tailed Hawk 2; Herring Gull 9; Hairy Woodpecker 2; Pileated Woodpecker 1; Golden-crowed Kinglet 1; Cedar Waxwing 80; Pine Siskin 2+ ...small flock heard flying overhead; Evening Grosbeak 2 male and female feeding on tent catipillar nest; American Tree Sparrow 83; Swamp Sparrow 1; Song Sparrow 7; (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/11/05 -- downtown Worcester/ Lake Quinsigamond
    There was 1 Peregrine Falcon on the old Mechanic's Bank building in downtown Worcester. I went down to Lake Park to check Lake Quinsigamond , and there were a lot of ducks around the islands. I went to three spots to try and count them. I think these numbers are low it was hard to count with the sun,the ducks diving and moving, and me trying to get the best view. Mute Swan 8, Ring-neck Duck 55, Common Merganser 15, Hooded Merganser 19, A. Coot 6, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Gadwall 2, many Mallards and Canada Geese. (report from John Shea).

    12/10/05 -- Hagar Pond, Marlboro
    We went to check to see if the Richardson/Cackling Goose was still at Hagar Pond in Marlboro ( on Rt.20) this morning. It was, though for how much longer is anyone's guess as the open water in the pond is now very small. This goose is tiny, just slightly bigger than a Mallard, with a tiny, stubby bill, rounded head and "dirty" cheek patch. The breast looks very light to be a Cackling, though at times I detected what looked like a purplish sheen to it. My guess is that it is a Richardson, but other folks should take a look at the bird. Other waterfowl present in the small area of open water included: Mute Swan (28); Canada Goose (112); Gadwall (2); Mallard (169: these were seen coming and going); A Black Duck (36); N. Pintail (3); Common Goldeneye (2f); Hooded Merganser (2f); and a number of domestic geese of various breeds. Parking could be challenging because of the snow. We pulled into the parking lot for the small "antiques" store, which wasn't OPEN yet, as parking on Rt.20 looked too dicey. Many medium-sized ponds and lakes in these parts are completely or almost completely frozen. Fort Meadow Reservoir in Marlboro was fozen and had only a recently deceased Canada Goose on it's surface. Barteltt Pond in Northboro was also frozen. Chauncy Lake in Westboro was 99.99% frozen, but had 6 Mute Swans around a small open area of water. SuAsCo was also almost completely frozen and hosted only 2 Mallards in the feeder stream. (report from Mark Lynch).

    12/10/05 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Migrating today were: Red-tailed Hawk 9 53 786 (report from Bart Kamp);.

    12/8/05 -- Millbury bikepath
    On the Blackstone in Millbury this morning: 1 belted kingfisher, 1 great blue heron, 12 hooded mergansers, 14 black ducks, 28 Canada geese, 50+ mallards. Land birds of note were 1 tree sparrow and 5 song sparrows. (report from Alan Marble).

    12/8/05 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester
    There were 2 Great Blue Herons in Broad Meadow Brook next to the Troiano Brookside Trail. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    12/6/05 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
    There was a pair of Northern Pintails. Also a Belted Kingfisher. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    12/5/05 -- Westboro WMA/ Lake Chauncey
    I took a walk around the Westboro Wildlife Management Area Monday afternoon. The area was alive with birds. The highlight was a Common Loon on the Lake. Other birds of note were: Great Blue Heron-1, Mute Swans-5, Black Ducks-3, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Robin-3, A. Tree Sparrow-38, Song Sparrow-7, White-throated Sparrow-25, Dark-eyed Juncos (100+). The fields were full of Juncos that flushed as I walked by. I've never seen so many Juncos. BTW- They are beginning to mow down the corn stalks in the fields. (report from Laura Lane).

    12/4/05 -- Fitchburg
    Today a lone sharp shinned hawk was harassed by juncos! He was actually driven off by the mob of little guys. We got a picture of him in the snow before he gave up and flew for cover. (report from Cheryl and JP Boissy).

    12/4/05 -- Hardwick
    I just returned from a private residence in Hardwick that has been featuring a juvenile male Pine Warbler for the past week or so. (report from Chris Buelow)

    12/4/05 -- Millbury
    In my yard this afternoon were: Brown-headed Cowbird - 1juv; Common Grackle - 1; Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1f;
    On Ramshorn Pond: Hooded Merganser ~ 15; Common Merganser ~ 5; COMMON GOLDENEYE - 1f. (report from Dan Berard).

    12/3/05 - 12/4/05 -- Blackstone National Corridor waterbird survey: fall
    Narratives and detailed reports (reports from various observing teams).

    12/3/05 -- Fitchburg
    The first Pine Siskin of the year appeared today at 11 AM in Fitchburg, feeding on a niger seed feeder with a flock of Goldfinch. Also, at dusk each evening the Crows have been gathering here for the night, circling, vocalizing and "getting the best seat". It is almost impossible to capture the magic of it all, given the fading light. It seems that the activity is a bit more frenzied on nights like this before a predicted storm. Here is a digital image, although the vast numbers (thousands, easily) are not able to be experienced with such stationary shots. There is a new housing development literally inside of the old granite quarry which the birds have used for safety for years. I hope the new homeowners know how lucky they are to have these birds every morning and night. [ed. note: from what I've read about similar roosts, all neighbors are not so happy about them. There is one roost in Auburn, NY, that some local residents are quite upset about.] (report from Cheryl Boissy).

    12/3/05 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Migrating today were: Bald Eagle 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk 11 ; Raptor Observations: The bald eagle was an adult. Non-raptor Observations: 1 woodcock, 1 northern shrike, 8 common mergansers. (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/1/05 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Migrating today were: Bald Eagle 1 ; Northern Harrier 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ; Cooper's Hawk 2 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk 33 ; Raptor Observations: Northern goshawk not migrating. The harrier was an adult male and the bald eagle was an immature. Non-raptor Observations: 81 Canada geese, 3 common mergansers migrating. 1 northern shrike. (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/1/05 -- Holden
    Amazingly, the Barred Owl that has been a resident in our back woods for the past two winters reappeared today for a new season. At 12:30, there was a tremendous amount of "mobbing" by four crows and two to three jays. They had flushed the owl into a large pine directly in front of the kitchen window. With a great deal of persistence, they flushed the owl further back into another pine where there was better protection and able to withstand any further "mobbing". The owl is sitting there as I post this sighting. Winter is here. (Report from Steve Olson).

    For previous sightings, see November 2005 Archives or Archive Index