December 2006 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:

• 1/7/07 -- WICN radio interview on Birding in Iraq
• 1/9/07 -- Mass Audubon Birds of Massachusetts: Winter Session

Bird Sightings:

12/31/06 -- Lincoln, RI

We conducted a complete survey of the ponds IN and CONTIGUOUS WITH Lincoln, Rhode Island, part of the Blackstone National Corridor. Overall, waterfowl numbers were fairly typical. Many smaller ponds had a thin coating of ice and even larger bodies had some ice on them. Still, for the very end of December, there was a lot of open water. One problem resulting from this was that at Olney Pond, Lincoln Woods there were still fishing boats out on the water disturbing and flushing waterbirds. Totals: Pied-Billed Grebe (1); Great Blue Heron (3); Mute Swan (15); Canada Goose (341); Mallard (256); American Black Duck (41); Gadwall (55); Ring-necked Duck (26); Common Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (37); Common Merganser (20); Cooper's Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (2); American Coot (29); Ring-billed Gull (250); Herring Gull (37); Great Black-backed Gull (26); Belted Kingfisher (1); Passerines at these locations were also fairly typical but did include (4) Red-bellied Woodpeckers; (1) Gray Catbird; (2) Swamp Sparrow; and (4) Red-winged Blackbirds. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

12/30/06 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester

I saw the yellow patches on the underwings of the Great Blue Heron as it flew by. The 5 Northern Pintail are still here, as is the drake Wood Duck. Also, 94 Mallards, 29 American Black Ducks, 21 Hooded Mergansers, and 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

12/29/06 -- Lake Singletary, Millbury

Today, at about 11am Richard Johnson, Alan Marble and I were at the Lake Singletary boat ramp to see if the Little Blue Heron was still around. We didn't see it and it hasn't been seen in a few days so it hopefully moved on. Though it would have been a nice January 1st bird. To compensate for the heron, there was a 2nd winter Iceland Gull sitting on the ice amongst ~ 50 Ring-billeds and 3 or 4 Herrings. The Iceland that was present at Singletary last year was a 1st winter...hhhmmm. Also on Lake Singletary were: Ruddy Duck ~ 30; Hooded Merganser - 4; Common Merganser ~ 200 (There has been a or the same large flock here since last week); Mallard ~ 15; Am Black Duck ~ 8; Canada Goose ~ 150. (report from Dan Berard).

12/29/06 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

A Belted-Kingfisher was working the brook along the Stretch. (report from Brian Mulhearn).

12/24/06 -- Rt.56 airport overlook, Leicester

Just before dusk, we went up to the Rt.56 overlook of Worcester Airport to check for Short-eared Owls. The conditions look perfect, but, alas, no owls. Amazingly there were few birds of any kind: American Crow (c.300+ seen passing the Pachachoag Towers heading to roost) American Robin (1); Red-winged Blackbird (c.30 heading west); Passing Kettlebrook Reservoir # 2 we found American Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (2f). Heading down Mullberry Street, right behind the runways, we couldn't turn up one bird, no sparrows, nothing! (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

12/24/06 -- Lake Singleterry, Millbury

The immature LITTLE BLUE HERON continues at Lake Singleterry in Millbury, Worcester County. This morning we saw it from the boat launch at the north end of the lake. BUT, it wasn't there right off and we only found it after circling the entire lake counting birds and returning to the spot where we started. So the bird does move around. Also present: Canada Goose (67); Mallard (53); American Black Duck (1); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (175); Ruddy Duck (18); Ring-billed Gull (150+); Hermit Thrush (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

12/24/06 -- Millbury/East Brookfield/New Braintree/Worcester

After checking Lake Singleterry for the Little Blue (see previous post) we had the following at Brierly Pond, Millbury: Great Blue Heron (1); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1); Common Merganserr (1);

At CERAMIC POND, EAST BROOKFIELD: Hooded Merganser (52);

We then began to check the town of NEW BRAINTREE for Carolina Wrens. Noted Massachusetts birder, BOB STYMEIST, has been trying to tick Carolina Wrens in every town in Massachusetts. Most of the towns left for Bob to see a wren in are, predictably, in the northern Berkshires and nearby "hill towns". Amazingly, he is down to a few towns in the entire state, and the ONLY town left in all of CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS (Worcester County west to the Connecticut River); is NEW BRAINTREE, and he has tried there too. So Sheila and I decided to spend some time there this mornign trying to scare a Carolina Wren up in that town. Though we found some potentially good habitat, it was NO DICE this go round. As a matter of fact, there were very few birds of any kind, despite all the open water and lack of snow cover. Our most glaring miss was WILD TURKEY. Our most interesting bird was (1); TURKEY VULTURE over the town center. Other than that, it was just a mere handful of the expected common birds, and no more.

On the way home, we stopped by COES POND/RESERVOIR, WORCETSER. Most birds were in the tiny pond and not the much larger and more open reservoir: Canada Goose (14); Mallard (8); Hooded Merganser (38); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Ring-billed Gull (150+);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

12/24/06 -- Notre dame Cemetery, Worcester/Millbury

One Merlin, 14 green-winged teal at Notre Dame Cemetery. The little blue heron is still hanging around the Singletary Lake boat ramp in Millbury. (report from Alan Marble)

12/22/06 -- Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick

A Gray Catbird was observed in the margin of the pastures of Muddy Brook WMA on Jackson Road. (report from Chris Buelow)

12/21/06 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester

Highlights this morning: 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 Hooded Mergansers, 16 Green-winged Teal, 5 Northern Pintail, and 1 Belted Kingfisher. I noticed the water level was way down since I was here 5 Days ago. Someone removed a 6 foot section of the beaver dam along the shore of Notre Dame Cemetery. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

12/20/06 -- Brierly Pond, Millbury

I found the immature Little Blue Heron at Brierly Pond in Millbury this morning. While I was there, the bird was primarily perched, looking a little puzzled at the ice around the edge. (report from Bruce deGraaf).

12/19/06 -- Worcester Airport, Worcester

There was an American Kestrel perched in a tree next to the parking lot for the Worcester Airport. (report from Michael Walker).

12/18/06 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury/Millbury

I located the pair of redheads reported and photographed by Bruce DeGraaf during the Worcester CBC. Very close views can be gotten from the southern end of Quinsigamond Lake Park. They can also be seen across the lake from VinnyT's. The little blue heron is still present at the Singletary boat ramp. (report from Alan Marble).

12/17/06 -- Salisbury Pond/Flint Pond, Worcester

The Black- crowned Night Heron (seen 12/16 on CBC Worcester) was still at Salisbury Pond this morning. On Flint Pond: 7 Gadwall, 9 Common Merganser, 18 Hooded Merganser and 1 Great Blue Heron. Lake Quinsigamond had 2 Redhead, 4 Rudy Duck, 5 A. Coot, and 32 Common Goldeneye. (report from John Shea).

12/16/06 -- Millbury

Here are two more photos (photo5) |(photo6)) showing more detail of the head and bill of the Little Blue Heron. (photos from Richard Johnson).

12/16/06 -- Worcester CBC

Here are the preliminary results for yesterday's Worcester Christmas Count:

Canada Goose - 1200
Mute Swan - 17
Wood Duck - 6 (TIED HIGH)
Gadwall - 1
American Wigeon - 3
American Black Duck - 97
Mallard - 1172
Northern Shoveler - 2
Northern Pintail - 6 (NEW HIGH)
Green-winged TEal - 25 (NEW HIGH, old high was 4)
Redhead - 2 (Lake Quinsigamond)
Ring-necked Duck - 3
Greater Scaup - 48
Lesser Scaup - 1
Long-tailed Duck - 2 (NEW HIGH)
Bufflehead - 4
Common Goldeneye - 133
Hooded Merganser - 251
Common Merganser - 144
Ruddy Duck - 4
Ruffed Grouse - 1
Wild Turkey - 32
Red-throated Loon - 1 (TIED HIGH)
Common Loon - 3
Horned Grebe - 4
Double-crested Cormorant - 3 (NEW HIGH)
Great Blue Heron - 15 (NEW HIGH)
Great Egret - 1 (NEW SPECIES - documentation is being provided)
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 (first since 1967)
Bald Eagle - 2 (pair at Wachusett Reservoir))
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2
Cooper's Hawk - 5
Accipiter sp. - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 47
American Kestrel - 2
Ring-billed Gull - 2453
Herring Gull - 346
Great Black-backed Gull - 16
Rock Pigeon - 560
Mourning Dove - 137 (very low number)
Eastern Screech-Owl - 4
Great Horned Owl - 10 (NEW HIGH)
Barred Owl - 2
Northern Saw-whet Owl - 2 (TIED HIGH)
Belted Kingfisher - 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 24
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 128
Hairy Woodpecker - 20
Northern Flicker - 7
Pileated Woodpecker - 2
Blue Jay - 421
American Crow - 611
Common Raven - 2
Horned Lark - 65
Black-capped Chickadee - 1097
Tufted Titmouse - 297
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 9
White-breasted Nuthatch - 201
Brown Creeper - 24
Carolina Wren - 18
Winter Wren - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 59
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 (TIED HIGH)
Eastern Bluebird - 58 (NEW HIGH)
Hermit Thrush - 6
American Robin - 367
Northern Mockingbird - 26
European Starling - 1892
Cedar Waxwing - 154
American Tree Sparrow - 77
Field Sparrow - 4
Song Sparrow - 113 (NEW HIGH)
Swamp Sparrow - 5
White-throated Sparrow - 125
Dark-eyed Junco - 711
Northern Cardinal - 164
Red-winged Blackbird - 9
House Finch - 178
American Goldfinch - 357
House Sparrow - 871

Number of Species: 81

(report from John Liller).

12/16/06 -- Singletary Lake, Millbury

The little blue heron was present today at the Singletary Lake boat ramp at 2:30. Very close views. Also, a turkey vulture at the same location. (report from Alan Marble).

12/15/06 -- Lake Singletary, Millbury

I checked Lake Singletary pre-dusk (3:30-4). There was a good amount of gulls and the Little Blue Heron was still present. There was also an acceptable amount of waterfowl. After my initial visit to Singletary, I returned with my dad around 4:15 so he could see the Little Blue. It was there as we pulled into the boat ramp parking lot but when we got out of the car it was gone. We checked the rest of the lake and also nearby Brierly but there was no sign of it. Here is the List: Little Blue Heron - 1; Great Blue Heron - 2; Belted Kingfisher - 1; Mallard - 21; American Black Duck - 7; Hooded Merganser - 4; Common Merganser - 3; Canada Goose - 12; Ring-billed Gull - 381; Herring Gull - 8; Great Black-backed Gull - 1. There were also several breeds of domestic waterfowl: Brecon Buff Goose, Rouen, and Pekin Duck. (report from Dan Berard).

Note added by Mark Lynch 12/15/06:

The significance of the Millbury Little Blue

For many coastal birders and others, the significance the December record of a Little Blue Heron in Worcetser County may not be obvious. Speaking to Fran McMenemy (THE authority on Worcester County birds) last night during the compilation for the Sturbridge CBC, he noted that there have NEVER before been any December records of ANY white herons/egrets in Worcester County previous to this bird in Millbury (still there today, but at Lake Singleterry).

"White" egrets/herons and all pretty uncommon in the County. The most "commonly" noted by far, and that is a relative term, is GREAT EGRET. Most records are for mid-summer-early fall (July-early October) post breeding wanderers. They appear at select locations and can be particularly attracted to reservoirs and ponds where the water is low. In a typical year, the active County oberver may see 1-3 Great Egrets. When a novice reports a "white heron" to you in Worcester County, local birders always first think "Great Egret". Most birders note 1 Great Egret per location, but sometimes 2 or more are seen if conditions are right as when I had (5) on 8/20/99 in Holden on a reservoir with dramatically lowered water. They tend to linger for days in one area, so the chances of eventually seeing one are good. There are a number of spring records of this species too.

Much, much less common (call it "uncommon") in Worcester County is the SNOWY EGRET. This bird is mostly a Spring and mid-summer bird, mostly seen singularly, and often a "one day wonder". Though at least one bird at least appears most years, especially as recorded in the last decade or so, this is an easy species to miss in the County, even if you are an active oberver. This species is much more common as a post breeding wanderer at the southern end of the Blackstone National Corridor in Providence/East Providence RI along the Seekonk River, where I have recorded as many as (13) from one vantage point. But they just don't seem to wander north as commonly by far as the Great Egret.

LITTLE BLUE HERONS are very uncommon-rare in Worcester County, most often seen as spring migrant overshoots or as mid-summer post breeding wanderers. They are mostly "one day wonders". That said, there are some late records for the County: October 6, 1946 (1) Gardner; October 3, 2002 (1) Westboro, September 25-October 5, 1982 (1) West Boylston and the very unique record of October 16-November 17 1977 (1) Spruce Pond, Boylston. Most records are of immature birds. They are not recorded every year in the County by any means. To date, I have personally have records of (7) Little Blues in Worcester county over 30+ years including this years, but there are many more records to be found in the Chickadee.

CATTLE EGRET are just as uncommon/rare as LITTLE BLUEs, in the County, maybe more so, not recorded every year by any means. Birds when they do appear, are often "one day wonders", but some linger at least a few days. To date, I have personally seen only three in the County, all spring (May) reports, twice at Bolton Flats as a fly-by, though there are many more records to be found in the Chickadee.

12/15/06 -- Brierly Pond, Millbury

The Little Blue Heron found by Richard Johnson is still present in Millbury. It often visits Brierly Pond, however, Mark Lynch and Sheila Carroll found it on Lake Singletary this morning. There is a lot of habitat for the bird in this immediate area. If you're planning on looking here are some suggested areas to check.

• Brierly Pond - Located at the intersection of West Main Street and Sutton Rd in Millbury. There is an obvious (and convenient) pull off with good viewing locations and several trails (one on the right and one on the left) to check for the bird from a different vantage point.
• West Millbury Fire Station Pond - Also on West Main Street, near Harris Ave. Again there is an obvious pull off to check for the bird. I have not heard a report of the bird here but it's worth a check if it isn't at Brierly or Singletary.
• Lake Singletary - The bird was present here this morning at about 7:45. This is the same spot where the Canvasback was a few weeks ago. The best thing to do is park in the lot for the boat ramp located between Harris Ave and the intersection of West Main Street and Singletary Road. It would be worth scanning the nearby shoreline from the lot before continuing. Walk on the sidewalk following the fence (take a left out of the lot). There will be a house on a point on the left with a rocky shoreline. This is where the bird was this morning.

Keep in mind that this is an immature bird and will be WHITE not blue and that Little Blues have a very slow feeding style so the bird can easily look like a piece of trash unless you put a scope or binos on him. Also, this bird tends to walk along the shoreline and so it may show up in a previously scanned area even if you didn't see it fly in. (report from Dan Berard).

12/14/06 -- Sturbridge CBC totals

Thursday we held the STURBRIDGE CBC which covers part or most of the towns of the Brookfields (North, West, et), Spencer, Charlton, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Holland, Brimfield, Warren , towns many eastern birders have likely never visited before to bird. The habitat is rural/suburban, still with many farms and woodlots, but very rapidly being coverted to housing. THIS area is therefore on leading edge of the effects of SPRAWL in Massachusetts. Every year, there is less and less "good" habitat. As you can imagine: the weather was great (Eastern Painted Turtle was found!). The low was just under freezing, but the high reached 63 and I ended up doing most of my sector in my sweater. The morning was quite foggy, but it cleared by mid-morning. Water, moving and still, was mostly open. Despite this, waterfowl species numbers and variety were modest. The food crop was varied. Passerines were the big news this count, and several new species for the count were found and several new count highs were recorded. Part of this has to be attributed to the weather: the betetr the weather, the more folks stayed outside, the more birds that were found.

ALL CAPS=NEW SPECIES FOR COUNT/ CH=Count High

RED-THROATED LOON (1)
Common Loon (1)
Great Blue Heron (17: CH)
TURKEY VULTURE (1)
Mute Swan (1)
Canada Goose (1032)
Wood Duck (18: CH)
Black Duck (50)
Mallard (679)
Ring-necked Duck (2)
Greater Scaup (1)
Long-tailed Duck (1: recorded only once before)
Hooded Merganser (109)
Common Merganser (980)
Ruddy Duck (15)
Bald Eagle (1)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (4)
Cooper's Hawk (9)
Red-shouldered Hawk (1)
Red-tailed Hawk (22: including one leucistic: all white w/red tail)
Ring-necked Phaesant (1)
Ruffed Grouse (1: low)
Wild Turkey (26)
VIRGINIA RAIL (2)
American Coot (6: CH)
Wilson Snipe (1)
Ring-billed Gull (728)
Herring Gull (76)
Great Black-backed Gull (28)
Rock Pigeon (1102)
Mourning Dove (451)
E Screech Owl (6)
Great Horned Owl (9)
Barred Owl (5)
Long-eared Owl (1)
N Saw-whet Owl (9)
Belted Kingfisher (14: CH)
Red-headed Woodpecker (1)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (63: CH)
Downy Woodpecker (230)
Hairy Woodpecker (44: CH)
N Flicker (26: CH)
Pileated Woodpecker (8: CH)
Horned Lark (2)
Blue Jay (927)
American Crow (365)
C Raven (5)
Black-capped Chickadee (1945)
Tufted Titmouse (617)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (4: REALLY not a flight year!)
White-breasted Nuthatch (400)
Brown Creeper (34)
Carolina Wren (54: CH)
Winter Wren (6: CH)
HOUSE WREN (1)
MARSH WREN (3)

Golden-crowned Kinglet (155)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (8: CH)
Eastern Bluebird (113)
Hermit Thrush (3)
A Robin (1336)
Gray Catbird (1)
N Mockingbird (21)
Cedar Waxwing (248)
Northern Shrike (1)
E Starling (2532)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (1)
N Cardinal (274: CH)
Eastern Towhee (3: CH)
American Tree Sparrow (232)
Chipping Sparrow (3: CH)
Field Sparrow (3)
Fox Sparrow (6: CH)
Song Sparrow (180)
Lincoln's Sparrow (1)
Swamp Sparrow (15: CH)
White-throated Sparrow (341)
Dark-eyed Junco (2119)
Red-winged Blackbird (319)
Rusty Blackbird (26: CH)
Common Grackle (23)
Brown-headed Cowbird (40)
NOT A SINGLE "WINTER FINCH" NOT EVEN A PURPLE FINCH!
House Finch (242)
American Goldfinch (497)
House Sparrow (945)

My sincere thanks to all the folks who worked hard in this count! (report from Mark Lynch (compiler)).

12/14/06 -- Brierly Pond, Millbury

The Little Blue Heron (photo) I found on Dec 12 is still at Brierly Pd. I I hope the bird migrates soon enough. (report from Richard Johnson).

12/14/06 -- Gardner

This morning there was a Chipping Sparrow in my backyard and a Carolina Wren near Crystal Lake. (report from Tom Pirro).

12/12/06 -- Brierly Pond, Millbury

The leg color, torso size and geo. location of the egret that I photographed (photo1 | photo2 | photo3) seems to indicate sub-adult Snowy, even though bill / lores color is not quite what I expected???? (report and photos from Richard Johnson).

Notes added by Alan Marble 12/13/06
Following up on Rich Johnson's report and pictures, I believe there is an immature little blue heron at Brierly's Pond in Millbury. It is a smallish white heron with a light gray bill, darker at the tip, greenish legs. At one point it was standing on a rock in plain sight and the feet were the same color as the legs. There were no "golden slippers." Other people should check it out. Brierly's is on West Main St. There is a dirt parking lot across from the former Royal House of Pizza. The bird was not there at 8 this morning (12/13), but when I checked back at 11:30 it was present.

Note added by Chuck Caron 12/13/06:
My preliminary thoughts on the egret in Millbury: Looking at the pictures of the egret that were posted, I agree with Mr. Johnson that the bill does not look right for a snowy egret. At this point I would lean more towards it being an immature Little Blue Heron. The bill and leg color appear more appropriate for a little blue. The bill proportion also seem wrong for a Snowy Egret. My only reservation on the heron ID is that the second photo seems to show the wing tips very clearly and they do not appear dark. I know that that feature is often difficult to see, and I don't know if the dark tips are always present or if they may not be present during some plumage phase. In addition, the id tips of the USFS Patuxent web site say the dark tips are generally visible only from below. Other species with which I am completely unfamiliar (and don't have a guide with me at the office), such as Little Egret, may need to be considered.

12/12/06 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

There were not many birds here today but there were many of the common Sparrows. I saw an unusual behavior from a male Downey Woodpecker, It was foraging and pecking on the invasive phragmites as if they were tree trunks. It flew from stalk to stalk apparently gleaning insects. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

12/12/06 -- Institute Park, Worcester

The DC Cormorant was not present today at noon. However, there was one female N. Pintail among the Mallards, as well as 17 Hooded Mergansers. (report from Rick Quimby).

12/11/06 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Highlights today were 1 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and 15+ Hooded Mergansers. The is the latest date I've recorded the DCC Cormorant at the Park, by one month (previous late date was Nov. 11, 1996). This was an immature in crisp plumage. (report from Rick Quimby).

12/11/06 -- Westboro Reservoir

Today at Westboro Reservoir my father Ken found 6 Adult and 1 Juv. Snow Goose. When I went down I talked to the residents who saw them circle three times then fly in. Also there are some Common and Hooded Mergansers, and there have been up to 150 Ring-necked Ducks the past few days as well as several Buffleheads. (report from Nickilas Paulson).

12/11/06 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester

A Red-tailed Hawk was being mobbed by Crows and Blue-jays. Highlights were 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 Mute Swans, 12 Canadian Geese, 1 Wood Duck, 17 Mallards, 4 Black Ducks, 6 Green-winged Teals, 5 Northern Pintails, 6 Hooded Mergansers, and 1 Hairy Woodpecker. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

12/10/06 -- Maple St., Sterling

In the late morning, while walking, we spotted a kestrel in the fields next to Davis' Farmland and then saw a Northern Flicker on a larch tree on Maple Street in Sterling. An unidentified accipiter, most likely a Cooper's zipped through the trees on Redstone Place. (report from Marion Larson and Scott Handler).

12/10/06 -- Westboro WMA

I checked out Bartlett Pond today and found it about 60% ice covered. In the pockets of open water were Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Mallards and 9 A. Coot. There was also a Muskrat on the ice. At the Westboro WMA, highlights in the fields and woods near Little Chauncey Pond were Mute Swan, 2 Carolina wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, A. Robin, Cedar waxwing, A. Tree Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird (1 male). Little Chauncey Pond is completely ice-free. (report from Laura Lane).

12/10/06 -- West Millbury

I had a brown-headed cowbird at the feeder today. (report from Alan Marble).

12/9/06 -- Coes Pond, Worcester

There were 175 Common Mergansers on Coes Pond this morning. Flint Pond had: 1 Common Goldeneye,1 Gadwall ,10 Hooded Merganser, 1 Bufflehead, 4 Scaup sp. And 1 Belted Kingfisher. Lake Quinsig. Had 22 Common Goldeneye, 2 Coot and 5 Common Merganser. (report from John Shea).

12/9/06 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester

Highlights today: 2 Mute Swans, 1 Great Blue Heron, 16 Hooded Mergansers, and 24 Green-winged Teal, that is the most Teal I have seen here at once. Also, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches. Yesterday at Coes Pond there were 5 Mute Swans, 40+ Common Mergansers, 26 Hooded Mergansers, and many Gulls, including 2 Greater-black Backed Gulls. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

12/9/06 -- Barre Falls

At the hawkwatch today:

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              1
Turkey Vulture               0              0            327
Osprey                       0              0            285
Bald Eagle                   2              3             56
Northern Harrier             1              1             42
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0              0           1090
Cooper's Hawk                0              0            126
Northern Goshawk             0              0              7
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              3             47
Broad-winged Hawk            0              0           5563
Red-tailed Hawk              1              3            280
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              4
American Kestrel             0              0            164
Merlin                       0              0             45
Peregrine Falcon             0              0             11
Unknown                                                   58

Total:                       4             10           8106
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-raptor Observations: 24 common mergansers, 2 ravens and 1 hairy woodpecker. This is the final report of the year. (report from Bart Kamp).

12/9/06 -- West Millbury/Millbury Bike Path

At home in West Millbury, I had female yellow-bellied sapsucker on the suet this morning. This is the 5th winter in a row that at least one sapsucker has been around my house. Other regular visitors are a male and a female red-bellied woodpecker, hairy and downy woodpeckers and a Carolina wren that is mostly seen or heard crawling around the woodpile. Highlights on the Millbury Bike Path along the Blackstone River: 80+ mallards, 22 black ducks, 7 hooded mergansers, 2 great blue herons, 5 golden-crowned kinglets and 1 song sparrow singing. (report from Alan Marble).

12/7/06 -- Mare Meadow Reservoir, Westminster

This afternoon there was a double-crested cormorant still present at Mare Meadow Reservoir in Westminster. This is an amazingly late date for this species in northern Worcester County. (report from Chuck Caron).

12/7/06 -- Brierly's Pond, Millbury

In addition to the usual 10 or so mallards, there were 2 WOOD DUCKS and 1 common merganser at Brierly's Pond in Millbury today. (report from Alan Marble).

12/6/06 -- Fitchburg

We had our first ever Red Bellied Woodpecker in our backyard today. A pair of Carolina Wrens continues daily morning visits. They are much quieter now - more buzzy calls than the "tea kettle" chorus we had for months. (report from Cheryl and Jean Pierre Boissy).

12/6/06 -- Hadwen Park/Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

At Hadwen Park, I haven't seen the Osprey since Dec. 3rd. The recent cold weather has formed ice on part of the the pond and it is likely it went south. There were 2 Mute Swans, 1 Great Blue Heron, 5 Northern Pintails, 2 Green-winged Teal, 12 Hooded Mergansers, 6 Black Ducks, 45 Mallards, and 1 Belted Kingfisher.
At Broad Meadow Brook, there was a juvenile Northern Harrier hunting low over the marshes on both sides of the stretch. I had 2 late Field Sparrows at the powerline near Granite St. where there were Field Sparrows this spring and summer. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

12/6/06 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At noon highlights were 7 Green-winged Teal, 40+ Hooded Mergansers, and 1 Belted Kingfisher. (report from Rick Quimby).

12/3/06 -- Hadwen Park/Leesville Pond, Worcester

The Osprey called as it flew from it's usual perch behind the basketball court to a tree on the shore of Notre Dame Cemetery. There were 2 Mute Swans and 3 Hooded Mergansers. At Leesville Pond: 215 Canadian Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Hooded Mergansers, 2 American Widgeons, 2 Green-winged Teal, 6 Tree Sparrows, 5 Goldfinches, and 2 River Otters, one which was trailing after a Muskrat, (report from Brian Mulhearn)

12/3/06 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner

This evening on Crystal Lake in Gardner: Canada Goose ~40; Mallard ~250; Common Goldeneye 8; Common Merganser 6; Hooded Merganser 2; Herring Gull ~900; Glaucous Gull 1 1st Winter; Great Black-backed Gull ~200; Ring-billed Gull ~100. The bulk of the gulls arrived just about sunset and after. There were only ~ 200 present at 4PM when I arrived. I was fortunate to be able to pick out the 1st winter Glauc. in the fading light. (report from Tom Pirro).

12/3/06 -- Holy Cross College, Worcester

The Worcester crow roost is now located "behind" the stadium at Holy Cross College. It was easily seen at about eye level this morning around 6:30 from I-290. There were several hundred crows still present in the trees and many others were already flying towards their preferred yard, resturant, landfill, or wherever thier final destination may be. (report from Dan Berard).

For previous sightings, see November 2006 Archives or Archive Index