December 2007 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:

12/30/07 -- Gate 40, Quabbin Reservoir, Petersham
From 7:40 A.M. to 12:48 P.M.. Upon concluding a morning's impromptu hike into Gate 40 highlighted by the observation of two energetic Northern River Otters feeding at the Pottapaug Pond overlook on Greenwich Road, I retraced my steps to Dana Common, accompanied by the maniacal laughter of a Pileated Woodpecker. As the common~Rs granite marker came into view, I decided to investigate the portion of Skinner Hill Road immediately stretching away from the common. After poring over a small flock of resident species, I returned to the common to study the jagged border of the open field dotted with pines on the north side of Skinner Hill Road. An irregular patter of momentarily unfamiliar JEEEB! call notes quickly rewarded my efforts. Pudgy shapes sporting dull rose plumage assaulted the lush cone crop fleshing out the tip of an enormous Red Pine. Mammoth, grotesque bills savaged the copious quantity of available mast, filling the damp, still air with the arresting POP! of shattering cones. Utterly preoccupied with feeding, the portly finches fed with a wild abandon. Their inverted, teardrop-shaped profiles bobbed and swayed continuously, their entertaining upside-down acrobatics letting loose a torrent of detritus upon the icy snow beneath the frosted branches, shards clattering noisily over its hardened surface, skittering to a halt some three feet from my boots. Having reached the point of satiety, the hardy, mercurial band of Red Crossbills took flight, retreating into the depths of the conifers along the south side of the road. 
American Crow   23
American Goldfinch      14
American Robin  12
Black-capped Chickadee  4
Blue Jay        18
Brown Creeper   1
Carolina Wren   1
Cedar Waxwing   16
Common Raven    2
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Downy Woodpecker        2
Eastern Bluebird        5
Golden-crowned Kinglet  6
Great-Horned Owl        1
Mockingbird     1
Northern Cardinal       3
Northern Flicker        2
Pileated Woodpecker     1
Pine Siskin     13
Red Crossbill   7
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch   3
Rock Pigeon     28
Ruffed Grouse   3
Sharp-shinned Hawk      1
Starling        21
Tree Sparrow    11
Tufted Titmouse 8
White-breasted Nuthatch 7
White-throated Sparrow  5
(report from Chris Ellison).

12/30/07 -- Blackstone National Corridor, RI
We spent the morning birding a few stops in the RI section of the BLACKSTONE NATIONAL CORRIDOR. Here are the highlights:
  • MANVILLE CROSSING OF THE BLACKSTONE: Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (17); Mallard (25); A Black Duck (3); Common Merganser (5);
  • SNEETCH POND, CUMBERLAND: completely frozen, but in the thickets in the NE corner we had: E Screech Owl (1); Downy Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (2); Carolina Wren (2); Blue Jay (11); A Robin (131); Gray Catbird (2); N Mockingbird (1); Yellow-rumped Warbler (2); Tree Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (1); Swamp Sparrow (1); White-throated Sparrow (8); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (6); House Finch (6); Common Redpoll (6: overhead);
  • IN STREAM BEHIND MEADOWBROOK FARM, CUMBERLAND: Mallard (178); A Black Duck (2);
  • DIAMOND HILL/ARNOLD MILLS RESERVOIRS, CUMBERLAND: The water is still extremely low and mostly frozen at both reservoirs. Canada Goose (1); Common Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1); Carolina Wren (1);
  • TEN MILE RIVER NEXT TO PAWTUCKET COUNTRY CLUB, PAWTUCKET: Great Blue Heron (2); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (42); Mallard (46); A Black Duck (2); Green-winged Teal (9); Gadwall (19: this and the Lonsdale Marshes are the two most regular spots to find this species in the winter in the RI section of the Corridor); Hooded Merganser (11); Common Merganser (12); Belted Kingfisher (1); Fish Crow (6);
  • SLATER MEMORIAL PARK, PAWTUCKET: NB: as the morning wore on and more people with dogs became apparent, almost all the birds dispersed to parts unknown. Red-tailed Hawk (2: 1 bird was watched for 15 minutes as it broke off branches and brought them to a nest in a small pine); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (6); N Flicker (2); Carolina Wren (2); Dark-eyed Junco (80+); Rusty Blackbird (60+: we first found this flock feeding on the ground just along one of the roads through the park. They were then flushed by a Red-tail, and afterwards spent most of their time feeding and in the trees around Friendship Gardens trails, through the wet dell.
  • CENTRAL POND/PAWTUCKET (JAMES TURNER); RESERVOIR: 85% frozen. Canada Goose (138); Mallard (44); Lesser Scaup (8); Hooded Merganser (11); Common Merganser (10); Belted Kingfisher (1); Fish Crow (3); NB: there were hundreds of Ring-billeds and Herring Gulls present, and I searched in vain through them for anything different.
  • SEEKONK RIVER: very low numbers of waterfowl, but see BELOW for reason. Common Loon (1: north of Henderson Bridge); Great Cormorant (7); Mute Swan (7); Mallard (31); A Black Duck (4); Gadwall (4); WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (1m: at Henderson Bridge); Bufflehead (73); C Goldeneye (25); Hooded Merganser (7); Red-breasted Merganser (1); Ruddy Duck (46); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Bonaprate~Rs Gull (10); Belted Kingfisher (2); AND OFF BOLD POINT: (2); sleeping HARBOR SEALS. In winter we have now had seals regularly from here and ranging as far north as the Ten Mile River outlet.
  • ALSO: From Swan Point Cemetery, looking across towards the wastewater treatment facility, we had a string of 15 Mallard decoys. After a bit, we spotted the hunter in the phragmites next to the treatment facility, just across from the old ice company. I don~Rt know about any of you, but I still find it a bit concerning that any kind of hunting is allowed in such a congested area. After all, the guy was aiming towards SWAN POINT! (report from Mark Lynch).

    12/30/07 -- Doulas
    I birded with Paul Meleski in the town of Douglas today, to help Paul with his section of the Uxbridge CBC. Highlights were: Common Goldeneye 2; Common Merganser 3; Wild Turkey 24; Cooper's Hawk 1; Northern Saw-whet Owl 1; Red-bellied Woodpecker 7; Hairy Woodpecker 3; Red-breasted Nuthatch 2; White-breasted Nuthatch 70; Brown Creeper 1; Carolina Wren 3; Golden-crowned Kinglet 15; Eastern Bluebird 11; Hermit Thrush 1; American Robin 24; Bohemian Waxwing 3 Hemlock Road ~1/4 mile from the RI border; Song Sparrow 1; White-throated Sparrow 5; Purple Finch 1; Common Redpoll 1; Evening Grosbeak 2. A few photos from the day are on my blog (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/28//07 -- Winumusett WMA, New Braintree
    I spent 3 hours in the 3 fields, the swamp, and the ware river area. The swamp was frozen over, and below the huge beaver dam was some open water were around 12 canada geese, over 20 mallards, and 2 hooded mergansers were found. I also found 6 song sparrows and 1 belted kingfisher. There were a pair of mergansers over on the Ware River, which was partially frozen. (report and photo from Josh Gahagan).

    12/25/07 -- Worcester Airport
    We took a quick drive around Worcester Airport Hill this AM and had a nice show of frugivores. Black-capped Chickadee (14); Blue Jay (14); A Crow (38); American Robin (670); Cedar Waxwing (38); E Starling (92); Dark-eyed Junco (8); N Cardinal (6); Pine Grosbeak (14); A Goldfinch (2); Evening Grosbeak (1 overhead); PLUS: when we returned home, we found our "traditional" COOPER'S HAWK perched in the back waiting for some unsuspecting Rock Pigeon. (report from Mark Lynch).

    12/25/07 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester
    I found the female Barrow's Goldeneye at Lake Quinsigamond north of Regatta Point early this afternoon. It was with a female Common Goldeneye. They were feeding between the two docks that extend out from the western shore. There were several open areas with ducks, swans and gulls north of Route 9. Everything looked iced in south of Route nine. (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/22/07 -- West Millbury
    This morning there was a male yellow-bellied sapsucker on the suet. For the last several years, I have had one or two sapsuckers make a brief appearance in December and then return for a longer stay in January-February. At one point this morning, I was treated to the sight of the sapsucker, a red-bellied woodpecker, a hairy woodpecker, 2 white-breasted nuthatches and a brown creeper on the same tree trunk at the same time. Around noon, a Cooper's hawk made an appearance at the platform feeder. I now have one less morning dove and a yard full of feathers. (report from Alan Marble).

    12/22/07 -- Gardner
    Highlights seen and/or heard from the north side of Gardner from 4:30am to 4:30pm yesterday during the Westminster CBC. Wild Turkey 13; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Hairy Woodpecker 3; Pileated Woodpecker 1; Common Raven 1; Red-breasted Nuthatch 2; Brown Creeper 2; American Robin 8; Cedar Waxwing 26; American Tree Sparrow 20; White-throated Sparrow 1; Snow Bunting 1; Pine Grosbeak 30; Common Redpoll 10; Evening Grosbeak 12. I posted a few photos from the on my blog. (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/21/07 -- Millbury
    The Lark Sparrow is still alive and well and putting in quite a bit of time at the feeders in the Millbury yard today. Here's a recent pic. Other interesting birds in the yard this morning were 3 Pine Grosbeaks and 37 Common Redpolls. If you're interested in seeing this bird, send me an e-mail at ddbgannet@charter.net. (report from Dan Berard).

    12/18/07 -- Sturbridge Christmas Count
    Here is the complete list of the 80 species recorded during Tuesday's 2007 Sturbridge Christmas Count. (report from Mark Lynch).

    12/17/07 -- Gardner
    This morning there were 37 Pine Grosbeaks feeding in a crab apple tree on the golf course across the street from the main entrance to Mount Wachusett Community College. Also, I posted a few photos from my section of Saturday's Athol CBC on my blog, the birds were "digi-binned" and the scenery from my point and shoot camera. Not "real photography", but you get the idea. (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/16/07 -- Fitchburg
    I saw a scuffle at the base of a tree in some backyard woods in Fitchburg, MA. I initially thought it may have been a wounded crow. When I investigated, it flew away. It looked to me then to be a bigger bird, like an owl. Once I saw it, it confirmed my suspicion. Here is the Barred Owl that was causing all the commotion. (report and photo by Paul Maher Jr.).

    12/15/07 -- Worcester Christmas Count
    Here is the complete list of the 85 confirmed species (NEW HIGH) from Saturday's 2007 Worcester Christmas Count. (report from John Liller).

    12/15/07 -- Baldwinville/Birch Hill WMA
    This morning, I walked all streets (that fall within the count circle) of the village of Baldwinville and the Otter River "back bay" area (a total of 6 miles). In the afternoon I snowshoed (3 miles) a portion of the Birch Hill WMA/Lake Dennison areas, where all the roads are gated and transformed into snowmobile "highways". As usual there was a big flock of American Tree Sparrow along the Otter River and a blizzard of about 250 Common Redpolls seen and heard, but in flight in the same general area. There were 30 Pine Grosbeaks, 120 Cedar Waxwings and a Hermit Thrush in the Memorial Street area, and a few dozen Evening Grosbeaks a few streets to the north. The complete list from my area of the Athol CBC only: 
    Species Number reported
Ruffed Grouse 2  both flushed (in different areas) while snowshoeing, they
had been resting in pines about 30' off the ground.
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Rock Pigeon 14
Mourning Dove 3
Downy Woodpecker 12
Hairy Woodpecker 4
Northern Shrike 1  Imm.
Blue Jay 58
American Crow 17
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 127
Tufted Titmouse 11
Red-breasted Nuthatch 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 17
Brown Creeper 4
Carolina Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 5 (1st I've had in 14 years of covering this area)
Hermit Thrush 1 (1st I've had in 14 years of covering this area)
American Robin 19
Northern Mockingbird 3 (gernally a tough bird in this section)
European Starling 2
Cedar Waxwing 120
American Tree Sparrow 193
Song Sparrow 15
White-throated Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 44
Northern Cardinal 13
Pine Grosbeak 30
House Finch 15
Common Redpoll 272 (~ 250 in Baldwinville and 22 near Lake Dennison)
American Goldfinch 53
Evening Grosbeak 29
House Sparrow 51
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/14/07 -- West Boylston
    En route to my PT, we had a flock of about 35+ Snow Buntings flying over the fields, across the street and south from the Wachusett Country Club. After PT, we followed several flocks of Canada Geese as they flew over Wachusett Reservoir, and following them almost continuously by car, watched them land at Institute Pond! Around Hanover (Burncoat St), in the fruiting trees are several hundred starlings and about 100+ American Robins. (report from Mark Lynch).

    12/12/07 -- West Millbury
    This afternoon, I heard and saw a single pine grosbeak land in the top of a tree in my yard. I took this as a good omen and headed to Butler Farm on West Sutton Rd. to check out the big crabapple tree. Seven pine grosbeaks arrived shortly after I did and were still eating when I left. While scoping the gulls on the ice at Singletary Lake, I saw 4 common mergansers in the last small area of open water. Butler Farm is a town-owned piece of property, purchased as open space. A large sign easily seen from West Sutton Rd. identifies the property. However, West Sutton Rd is currently undergoing the installation of sewer lines and the road is usually closed during working hours. Today, they were done by 3 PM. (report from Alan Marble).

    12/9/07 -- WWMA, New Braintree. North and Brooks Roads, Hardwick
    Here is the complete extended trip report and bird list. (report from Chris Ellison).

    12/9/07 -- Worcester Airport
    After checking out the Barrow's at Lake Quinsigamond, we headed to Worcester Airport. On the runway was a huge flock of SNOW BUNTINGS, estimated at about 120+, another single bird was in the parking lot with us. Other birds in the area included American Robin (60+);; Cedar Waxwing (30+); and Wild Turkey (6);. We scoped from several vantage points looking for the Rough-legged Hawk and hoping for a Short-eared Owl and we saw neither. The conditions look perfect for a Shrt-eared to show up. (report from Mark Lynch).

    12/9/07 -- Boylston
    This morning, we did some scouting in our sector of the WORCESTER CBC. Our area includes the extreme eastern part of Wachusett Reservoir; South Bay; Davidian Farms, Mount Pisgah et. Much of the area is in BOYLSTON and Northboro. Other than the reservoir, all other still water was ice-covered. Consequently, we dipped on Mallard! The food crop was good, but local. The common sparrow species were only found in modest or low numbers but BLUE JAYS were everywhere. The only winter finch we could turn up today was a Pine Grosbeak Sheila spotted flying high overhead, calling continuously, and that she (amazingly); was able to spish down out of the sky so that it perched atop a pine, still calling.
  • Complete list: Common Loon (3); Horned Grebe (3); Ring-necked Duck (9); Greater Scaup (2); Common Goldeneye (19); Hooded Merganser (8); Common Merganser (8); Ruddy Duck (2); Cooper~Rs Hawk (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (16); Herring Gull (8); Rock Pigeon (16); Mourning Dove (48); Eastern Screech Owl (1 calling in day); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); Downy Woodpecker (13); Hairy Woodpecker (6); N Flicker (3); NORTHERN SHRIKE (1imm: hunting along the power lines near the prison); Blue Jay (95); A Crow (27); HORNED LARK (28); Black-capped Chickadee (91); Tufted Titmouse (38); Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); White-breasted Nuthatch (10); Brown Creeper (1); Eastern Bluebird (5); Hermit Thrush (1); A Robin (3); N Mockingbird (5); E Starling (77); Cedar Waxwing (41); Song Sparrow (2); Swamp Sparrow (1); White-throated Sparrow (3: seems extremely low); Dark-eyed Junco (26); SNOW BUNTING (72); N Cardinal (30); PINE GROSBEAK (1); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (11); House Sparrow (117); PLUS: White-tailed Deer (1);
  • LATER, while getting a bucket of sand near old Foley Stadium on Chandler Street, we peeked over the railing at the newly uncovered Beaver Brook. In this one spot were Mallard (15);; BELTED KINGFISHER (1);; SAVANNAH SPARROW (1: great looks at this species which is uncommon on the Worcester CBC);; Song Sparrow (6);. The weeds along the river look like they could host other interesting birds and the water is completely open. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    12/8/07 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester
    Late this afternoon, I found what I believed to be a female Barrow's goldeneye off the shore at Regatta Point. I returned this morning and got close looks from the parking lot at Vinnie T's. I called Fran McMenemy and asked him to have a look. Fran thought it looked good but called Mark Lynch to ask for his opinion. Mark feels that it appears to be an immature female Barrow's but would like someone to try and get some photos and send them to him for further study. (report from Alan Marble).

    12/8/07 -- Royalston/Worcester Airport
  • We headed up to Royalston early this morning. By the time we got to the town center, there was already a car of birders parked on the road watching the finches. Birders should try to park in the empty library lot across the street and not risk impeding cars driving by. Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, as well as Cedar Waxwings and robins were in good numbers; but by 8:30AM, birds really started to disperse. When we returned to the commons 45 minutes later, there were only a few birds around. My advice is get to the commons no later than 8AM. Standing outside the car quietly, small flocks of both grosbeaks were observed eating "grit" on the road, some as close as ten feet. Fantastic photo ops. Both grosbeaks were also in the trees right above our heads. The Evening Grosbeaks were observed tearing apart the webworm nests and eating something they found inside as well as eating the snow on the nests. Other than this concentration of birds in Royalston Commons, there were very few birds elsewhere in Royalston other than jays and chickadees, though we did see some small numbers of Pine Grosbeaks in ornamental crab apples in front of some people's homes. As is to be expected at this time of the year, deer hunters were out in force. Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (29); American Crow (2); American Robin (50+); Cedar Waxwing (120+: we really scanned birds for some time, including with a scope and found only Cedars); Tree Sparrow (6); PINE GROSBEAK (minimally 80+); EVENING GROSBEAK (minimally 90+);
      Note: if you go early for the grosbeaks at Royalston center, while you are standing there, hopefully quietly, watching and waiting, listen for this hilarious STARLING calling around the library. It's repetoire included imitating a titmouse, a Canada Goose (a first from a mimic for me),a Killdeer, a flicker and most often and most clearly: a Wood Thrush
  • On the way home, we stopped by WORCESTER AIRPORT and had a light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK hunting the fields along the runways. We ended up seeing this bird from both the Leicester side (Mulberry Street) and the Worcester side (airport parking lot). Also in the area was an adult Cooper's Hawk and an adult Peregrine Falcon. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    12/8/07 -- Gardner/Templeton
  • Highlights from a 7 mile walk from home toward the Wompanoag area this morning. Wild Turkey 7 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Common Raven 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 6 American Robin 8 White-throated Sparrow 2 Pine Grosbeak 41 (3 different locations); Common Redpoll 8 (seen and heard but in flight); American Goldfinch 10 Evening Grosbeak 1 (heard);
  • Also while doing some errands : Wood Duck 1 American Black Duck 2 Hooded Merganser 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pine Grosbeak 7 (near Parker's Pond);
  • Also another 12 Pine Grosbeaks at the junction of RTE 2 and 101 in Templeton.
  • Yesterday (12/7) I saw a white-headed Song sparrow in Groton, a few photos are on my blog. (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/8/07 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre Falls
    Raptors migrating today, and final season report: 
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0            302
Osprey                       0              0            159
Bald Eagle                   0              0             53
Northern Harrier             0              0             42
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0              0           1078
Cooper's Hawk                0              0             76
Northern Goshawk             0              0              3
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0             41
Broad-winged Hawk            0              0           3649
Red-tailed Hawk              0              0            251
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              1
American Kestrel             0              0            127
Merlin                       0              0             86
Peregrine Falcon             0              0             14
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              0              0
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0             47

Total:                       0              0           5929
----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Raptor Observations: 4 redtails not migrating. Non-raptor Observations: 4 pine grosbeaks. Final report of the season. (report from Bart Kamp).

    12/8/07 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester
    Made a few stops around Lake Quinsigamond today, from Lake Park: 1 C. Loon, 4 Wood Ducks Unusual on the big lake, 4 Ring-necked Duck, 45 C. Goldeneye, 15 Hooded Merganser, 24 C. Merganser, and 14 Mute Swans. From the pumping station: 1 Long~Vtailed Duck, 11 Hooded Mergs, 1Ruddy Duck, 3 Mute Swans (17 in all wow) and 1 Kingfisher. There were 3 people on kayaks stirring things up, I think these numbers are low it was hard to count. There were large numbers of Canada Geese and Mallard Duck also. I checked the Flint pond Boat Ramp For Redpolls and struck out.There were some guys out on the ice fishing they said it was 4 inches thick. Kayaks on one end ice fishing on the other, go figure. (report from John Shea).

    12/8/07 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
    There were several flocks of common redpolls at the far back edge of the field at River Bend Farm this morning. There were perhaps 50 birds, possibly more, moving among the birch trees to feed on catkins. (reported from Beth Milke and Nancy Demers)

    12/7/07 -- Shirley
    Have had a male Red Bellied Woodpecker at my feeder today. Striking appearance - such dramatic color & marking. (report from Laura Bridges).

    12/6/07 -- Gardner/Groton
    I had a single Pine Grosbeak and a single Snow Bunting across from Mt. Wachusett Community College this morning, during a 60 second stop near the bike path. Upon arriving at work in Groton, there were 12 Pine Grosbeaks feeding the berry trees near the back parking lot. There was a few males in this group, I snapped a few digi-bin photos and will post them on my blog tonight, when I get home. These were my first Pine Grosbeak in Groton since 1998! Here is my blog. (report from Tom Pirro)

    12/5/07 -- Hodges Village Dam, Oxford
    There were 37 common redpolls feeding in birches at the Greenbriar section of Hodges Village Dam. (report from Alan Marble).

    12/4/07 -- Millbury/Shrewsbury
  • Highlights along the Blackstone River from Central Cemetery in Millbury and the bike path: 1 great blue heron, 11 green-winged teal, 8 northern pintails and 5 hooded mergansers.
  • Following up on John Shea's recent report of a large flock of common redpolls, I checked east of the parking lot at the Flint Pond boat ramp in Shrewsbury and found at least 70 feeding in the birch trees.
    (report from Alan Marble).

    12/3/07 -- Ashburnham
    This morning I saw 7 Pine Grosbeaks feeding in a crabapple tree just east of the center of town beside Rte 101. The group included 1 male, 1 imm./ female russet type and 5 female types with the typical yellowish-green "caps". (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/2/07 -- Coldbrook Road, Oakham
    This morning there were 2 Female Pine Grosbeaks on the ground under some Spruce trees along Coldbrook Rd. This was the same location that the Red Crossbills were seen a couple of years ago. Near the Power Lines. Also at Barre Falls Dam near the old prison there was a Northern Shrike. (report from Peter Morlock).

    10/2/07 -- Cumberland, Smithfield Rhode Island
    We birded several of the small ponds/reservoirs in northern Rhode Island this morning, all of them IN the Blackstone National Corridor. Mergs were in good numbers, as were juncos.
  • SNEETCH POND, CUMBERLAND: few waterfowl, but a nice selection of lingering birds in the thickets in the back. Canada Goose (5); American Black Duck (11); Red-tailed Hawk (1); N Flicker (1); Carolina Wren (4); Winter Wren (1); Hermit Thrush (2); A Robin (1); Gray Catbird (1); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (4); White-throated Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (50+: large numbers wherever we went today); N Cardinal (14); A Goldfinch (5);
  • DIAMOND HILL/ARNOLDS MILL RESERVOIRS, CUMBERLAND: Arnold's Mill is still at very low water because of the construction. Common Loon (1); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (23); Mallard (112. There were another 156 Mallards at a small open stream behind a small farm, nearby); A Black Duck (35); Ring-necked Duck (2); Common Goldeneye (5); Hooded Merganser (134); Common Merganser (128); American Pipit (6); Cedar Waxwing (3); PINE GROSBEAK (1 flyover calling, heading south. The only "winter finch" of the day and the last one I expected. These are showing up in small numbers in a variety of spots in Central and northern Worcester County and people in RI should keep an eye/ear peeled for them);
  • WOONSOCKET RESERVOIR, SMITHFIELD/LINCOLN RI: A Black Duck (1); Lesser Scaup (2); Common Goldeneye (2f); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (88); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Hairy Woodpecker (1); COMMON RAVEN (2: 1 bird fly over low and actually flushed up the gulls and crows); American Robin (24); A Tree Sparrow (2); White-throated Sparrow (2); Dark-eyed Junco (272: huge flocks along Reservoir Road. Included 1 "Oregon-type" ); A Goldfinch (4);
  • STILLWATER (WOONASQUATUCKET); RESERVOIR, SMITHFIELD: Canada Goose (28); Mallard (313); A Black Duck (60); Ring-necked Duck (9); Bufflehead (2); Common Goldeneye (7); BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (1m: seen very well and studied for awhile from the fishing access parking area off Log Road off School Street in the SW corner); Hooded Merganser (19); Common Merganser (9); Ruddy Duck (12); BALD EAGLE (1 sub-ad: almost a "full adult" except for some black in the sub-terminal area of tail. This looks like the same bird we had at Woonsocket Reservoir several weeks back); American Coot (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Hermit Thrush (2); Carolina Wren (1); Tree Sparrow (6); Song Sparrow (4); Dark-eyed Junco (36);
    NB: hunters are out, all over and there is Sunday hunting in RI, so birders venturing out at this time of the year need to wear some regulation orange. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    12/2/07 -- Worcester
    Had a great day birding around Worcester
  • First stop Newton Hill: 6 Cedar Waxwings, 55 Robins, 3 C. Redpolls, 8 House Finch, 5 Gold Finch.
  • From there I hit Salisbury Pond: 2 Green Winged Teal and 4 Hooded Merganser, Indian Lake was mostly frozen.
  • Behind Forest Grove J.H.: 182 Cedar Waxwings I looked for a Bohemian for over an hour with no luck, they kept flying around and landing in different trees. I was frozen when I left. I did find a Hermit Thrush in the mix, also 18 Juncos, 7 White-throated Sparrows and 39 Robins .
  • From there I went to the Flint Pond boat ramp; 73 Hooded Merganser, 83 Mallard Duck, 65 Canada Geese, 27 Black Duck, 8 Gold finch and 165 C. Redpolls to the left of the boat ramp. No Hoary that I could see. Some guy (nut) went out in his boat when I was leaving and scared everything up, most headed to the big lake so I didn't count out there the only things new were 2 Common Merganser and a Kingfisher. (report from John Shea).

    12/2/07 -- Gardner
    Birds seen and/or heard from the Crystal Lake, Gardner golf course, Mount Wachusett Community College area during a 4 1/2 mile walk from home. A nice showing of Pine Grosbeaks (26 minimum) including 1 nicely colored male. One group of 16 were together feeding in a small crab apple on the golf course and 19 (some were from the 16 i'D seen earlier) behind the radio station on Green street...yes there were a few folks golfing today...I would imagine the greens are a little "fast" at 15 degrees F. The Redpolls were "fly-overs" seen and heard calling.
    Numerical highlights: Common Goldeneye 1; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Red-bellied Woodpecker 1; Red-breasted Nuthatch 1; Brown Creeper 2; American Robin 6; American Tree Sparrow 3; Pine Grosbeak 26; Common Redpoll 3; (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/1/07 -- Worcester/Millbury
    A few highlights from local ponds and lakes this windy, cold morning:
  • Brierly's Pond, Millbury- Female green-winged teal
  • Lake Singletary, Millbury- 19 ruddy ducks
  • Lake Quinsigamond- Female long-tailed duck hanging out with about 25 mallards. You can get a very close look at this duck from Quinsigamond State Park. The entrance gate has been open this year even on weekends.
    (report from Alan Marble).

    12/1/07 -- Quabbin Park/West Brookfield
  • We started the morning birding, or rather attempting to bird, SOUTH QUABBIN ("Quabbin Park"). The high winds and chilly temps made birding very difficult. With gusts of over 30-35 mph, the surface of the reservoir was whipped into a frenzy of white caps. If this wasn't enough, numerous leaves were blowing all over, including very high in the sky. These distracted us many times because they looked (albeit briefly) like some flying birds. Passerines were almost a no-show, but we managed to eek out a few here and there. Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (3); A Black Duck (3); Bald Eagle (1ad+1imm); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1ad); Wild Turkey (5); Ring-billed Gull (14); Downy Woodpecker (1); Hairy Woodpecker (2); Blue Jay (4); A Crow (16); Common Raven (2); Black-capped Chickadee (16); Tufted Titmouse (11); White-breasted Nuthatch (4: all seen on the ground, foraging); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); American Robin (40: all at the Winsor Memorial, feeding on the ground and in the crab apple trees); Cedar Waxwing (42: see above comment); Dark-eyed Junco (33); NB: so sign of any winter finches!
  • We then birded LAKE WICKABOG, in WEST BROOKFIELD. Here, at the north end especially, there was a nice concentration of gulls and ducks. The mergs were actively feeding. The few we saw catching fish, seemed to be getting eels. The gulls were constantly trying to kleptoparisitize the mergs. Canada Goose (121); American Black Duck (15); Mallard (143); Green-winged Teal (3); Gadwall (1); Hooded Merganser (71); Common Merganser (361); WILSON'S SNIPE (1); Ring-billed Gull (105); LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (1adW); Herring Gull (26); Great Black-backed Gull (10); A Crow (250+); Common Raven (2); Rusty Blackbird (2);
  • A brief stop along the 7MILE RIVER marshes in Spencer, yielded Canada Goose (92); Mallard (57); A Black Duck (14); Yellow-rumped Warbler (1);
    NB: hunters were out in force, so birders are reminded to wear some hunter's orange, even on Sundays (illegal hunting does happen after all), when venturing out. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    For previous sightings, see November 2007 Archives or Archive Index