December 2009 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:
- 12/31/09 -- Seekonk River, RI
-
This AM, just before the snow turned the secondary roads into a mess, we did
a "point-count" of the Seekonk River between Providence/East Providence.
There was a boat of duck hunters out opposite Swan Point, and still a lot of
slushy ice on the river, but we had some ducks. We continued down to Bold
Point.
Great Cormorant (4);
Great Blue Heron (1);
Mute Swan (2);
Brant (2);
Mallard (85);
American Wigeon (9);
American Black Duck (94);
Bufflehead (87);
Common Goldeneye (29);
Hooded Merganser (92);
Common Merganser (11);
Ruddy Duck (1);
Cooper's Hawk (1ad);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Ring-billed Gull (689);
Herring Gull (323);
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 adW);
Great Black-backed Gull (38);
Downy Woodpecker (2);
N Flicker (1);
American Robin (344);
Blue Jay (11);
Tree Sparrow (34);
Song Sparrow (9);
White-throated Sparrow (17);
Dark-eyed Junco (72);
Red-winged Blackbird (35+ feeding w/robins: all male);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 12/22/09 -- Millbury Bike Path
-
Highlights from along the Blackstone River this morning: 11 Americam Black
Ducks, 25 Mallards, 1 Northern Pintail (m), 3 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Great
Blue Herons, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Belted Kingfishers and 1 Song Sparrow.
Note, this path is usually plowed after storms, but not so this time. It's
walkable of course, but snowshoes are better.
(report from Alan Marble).
- 12/22/09 -- Millbury
-
Yesterday and today, I have a male Yellow-bellied
sapsucker coming to my
suet on Elmwood St.
(report from Alan Marble).
- 12/21/09 -- Mill Street, Worcester
- I found the current crow roost or staging area this evening: it's on both
sides of Mill Street. There were 100's of crows on the ice
in back of the bowling
alley and 100's more were in the trees in back of the Elks and former
O'Coin's buildings. (report from Bart Kamp).
- 12/19/09 -- Worcester and vicinity
-
The 58th Worcester Christmas Count took place on Saturday (12/19). While
there were no new species, and nothing more than moderate surprises, the
big news was the number of species with new highs for the count. There
were 14 different species with new high totals for the count, an amazing
number for a count as old as Worcester.
Here is the
complete list.
(report from John Liller).
- 12/18/09 -- New Braintree, MA (Mackay Road) and Hardwick,
MA (Upper Church, Jackson & North Roads)
-
Here is the
complete trip list.
(report from Chris Ellison).
- 12/17/09 -- Lake Ave, Worcester
-
I saw this
Bald Eagle today in my backyard! I live on Lake Ave in
Worcester, on Lake Quinsigamond. I noticed the eagle in the tree just after
I let my dog out into the backyard. I took the pictures from inside so I
wouldn't disturb it. I also saw an eagle Saturday and Sunday (12/12 and 12/13)
of this past
weekend. Sunday we saw it land on a tree across the lake in Shrewsbury,
then catch a fish and fly north along the lake. (report from Karen Fine).
- 12/17/09 -- North Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester/Shrewsbury
-
I also saw a bald eagle today. It was about 4:25 pm,
nearing darkness but still a pink and purple sky, so the eagle had to be
very close to its evening roosting site. It was flying east over route 290
where it crosses Lake Quinsigamond, up the highway a little, then crossed
290 west to the segment of the lake north of 290. I was driving so couldn't
track it for long, but it was a thrill while it lasted, and he was very
close to traffic. A city eagle! It was the last place I expected to
encounter an eagle, but symbolic of "Anything is possible!"
(report from Juliet Chaves).
- 12/16/09 -- Sturbridge
- I saw the White-winged Dove [ed. note: see message below from
The Bird Store and More] this afternoon around 3 pm right near the
side entrance to the Thai restaurant just below the deciduous tree near the
stairs. There was no Mourning Dove around. It was on the ground.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).
Email from The Bird Store and More on 12/16/09:
A White winged Dove was spotted late yesterday afternoon by Ian Lynch, one
of the birders who was counting birds for the annual Sturbridge Christmas
Bird Count. As of noon today the dove is still hanging around the parking
lot behind the Thai Place Restaurant in Sturbridge and along the Old
Sturbridge Village access road.
The White winged Doves native range extends from the south-western USA
through Mexico and the Caribbean. It has also been introduced to Florida.
This dove has been hanging around with a Mourning dove along the side of the
side of the road and in the parking lot.
To see a photo and any updated information go to
www.thebirdstoreandmore.com/content/Sightings/1008
- 12/14/09 -- Sturbridge and vicinity
-
The STURBRIDGE CBC took place Monday, December 14, the first day of the
count period, under almost ideal conditions. The weather was relatively mild
with little snow on the ground. However, most ponds were frozen from the
temps the week before, so waterfowl numbers and variety were on the low
side. Still, it was a great count. Here are the
totals.
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 12/13/09 -- Redstone Hill Rd, Sterling
- At 9 AM in the cornfield next to Davis Megamaze on
Redstone Hill Rd was a lone Snow Goose situated in a flock of
300 Canada Geese. (report from Scott R. Handler).
- 12/13/09 -- Flint Pond, Shrewsbury/Grafton
-
I had some good birds on Flint Pond today: 3 Wood Duck, 64 Black Duck, 280
Mallards, 1 C.Goldeneye, 63 Hooded Merganser, 5 C.Merganser, 1 Bald Eagle
seen from Springer Dam flying north up the lake. From the dam on the Lake
Quinsig. side I had 32 C. Goldeneye and 17 C. Merganser. From there I went
to Lake Park (Worcester) and when I looked south all the birds from Flint Pond were
flying down the lake. I think the Eagle may have circled back and went
looking for a meal. (report from John Shea).
- 12/11/09 -- James Street/Ludlow Street and vicinity, Worcester
- Around 4pm we observed
approximately 250-300 American Crows flying west en route to roost.
(report from Lisa, Seth and Zoe Hennin).
- 12/9/09 -- Grafton
-
We are fortunate enough to have a
gray phase screech owl in our yard box
this year. In the past we have had red phase. (report and photo from
Scott Jordan).
- 12/6/09 -- Seekonk River, Providence, RI
-
We conducted a waterbird survey of the Seekonk
River, between Providence and East Providence, from Pawtucket to Bold Point.
Our count also included Swan Point. This constitutes the southern terminus
of the Blackstone National Corridor. Waterfowl numbers and variety,
including gulls, were poor compared to years before.
Double-crested Cormorant (3);
Canada Goose (32);
Mute Swan (20);
American Wigeon (1);
A Black Duck (124);
Mallard (141);
Bufflehead (123);
Hooded Merganser (5);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Ring-billed Gull (224);
Herring Gull (106);
Great Black-backed Gull (6);
Eastern Screech Owl (2);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2);
Downy Woodpecker (2);
N Flicker (1);
Blue Jay (11);
Black-capped Chickadee (11);
Tufted Titmouse (6);
American Robin (198);
Gray Catbird (1);
N Mockingbird (2);
American Pipit (1);
Song Sparrow (6);
White-throated Sparrow (8);
Dark-eyed Junco (30);
N Cardinal (8). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 12/6/09 -- Lake Manchaug, Sutton-Douglas
-
The water level of this pond has been lowered dramatically as is typical in
late fall/winter.
Common Loon (1adW);
Hooded Merganser (1);
Common Merganser (1);
Ring-billed Gull (2);
Great Black-backed Gull (2);
Common Raven (1);
Snow Bunting (16);
American Goldfinch (3);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 12/4/09 -- Holden
-
This morning (10:00 a.m.), the Barred Owl made his first appearence of this
year for the eleventh year in a row. The alert was sounded by crows mobbing
the bird in a large pine which he resolutely held his ground (or branch).
The jays cackling only added to the scene. It is definitely the same bird (
a male) which has been here for many years. It was a very nice sight and
nice to welcome an old friend back for the winter.
(report from Steve Olson).
For previous sightings, see
November 2009 Archives or
Archive Index