December 2010 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:

12/31/10 -- Leominster
Scott Handler and I observed an adult bald eagle today at the intersection of Rte 2 and Rte 190 in Leominster, soaring over the Nashua River. (report from Marion Larson).

12/31/10 -- Millbury
Heading back from the Shoppes at Millbury on 146 just before Tony's Pizza I had a Great blue heron heading south. Though not a rare bird still a nice bird to end the decade with . (report from Michael Joubert).

12/30/10 -- Sutton
Around 4.00 on Providence Road in Sutton, near Direnzo Concrete, there was a large flock of American Robins (quick guess there were 50 - 60 birds). (report from Michael Joubert).

12/26/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston/Clinton
Late morning today there were 40 Greater Scaup on Wachusett seen from the north end of the 140/110 causeway in West Boylston. On gate 39 in Clinton there were 25 Goldeneyes. (report from Jean Holm).

12/25/10 -- Sutton
Among all the regulars at the feeders this morning I had a brief visit from a male YELLOW BELLIED SAPSUCKER I just wished he could have stayed long enough to get a photo .Still a very nice gift who says there is no Santa. (report from Michael Joubert).

12/24/10 -- Gardner
  • The TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE that was found by Tom Pirro yesterday, was seen by a small group of us, and watched closely (and even heard) this AM. It is feeding on Bittersweet around old apple trees in a small field at the junction of Chapel St and Carter Rd in Gardner, off Rt. 101. Stay to the edge of the field. People arrived at dawn, but the bird did not appear for more than an hour. In fact, some birders from Boston left. Initially the bird was seen flying high from the direction of Hunter Farm (down the road) across the field and it perched on the tree along the edge of the field towards Rt. 101. We got the bird in the scope and we all saw it clearly, if distantly. The bird then dropped suddenly and seemed to go into some dense thickets along the back edge of the field, but we could not find the bird for an additional 15 minutes. Suddenly, the bird flew across the field, again from the direction of Hunter Farm, and this time perched in the close apple trees and fed on the Bittersweet. The views were superb and we all watched it as it called. It fed in the Bittersweet on both of the appletrees. Eventually it flew across the field in the direction of Hunters Farm, and was last seen by our group (c. 9:30AM) perched on the tip of a spruce, and then was seen flying across the street, where there is even more Bittersweet.
  • On the way home, we stopped by WORCESTER AIRPORT, where the SNOW BUNTING AND HORNED LARK show is in full swing in the parking lot next to the runways. Initially we saw the several flocks of the birds out on the runways, but plane traffic soon brought some of the brids into the parking lot itself, offering great views. Estimates were of about 60+ SNOW BUNTINGS and 30+ HORNED LARKS. No other birds of interest were seen.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    12/23/10 -- Sutton
    Around 3.00 this afternoon in the wood lot just before Blackstone Golf course on Putnam Hill road Sutton  there was a very large group of Wild Turkeys 30+ all appearing to be Toms and Jakes  though it was hard to say as there was too much traffic and no place to pull over . At 3:15 I saw the palest Redtailed Hawk I have ever seen, it was almost completly white; this bird was in Millbury center . Heading South on 146 after that I was able to spot 7 more Red Tails  on the sides of the highway . Nice change of pace from Siskins and the rest of the regulars at my feeders.Happy Hollidays . (report from Michael Joubert).

    12/23/10 -- Gardner
    On way home for an interview today, about noon, I had the good fortune of crossing paths with a Townsend's Solitare in Gardner at the Junction of Chapel St. and Carter Rd.....Chapel St is a few hundred yards WEST of the junction of rte 140 and Rte 101. Carter is a hundred yards down Chaple. The bird was seen in the field opposite the end of Carter.   No I did not have a camera, but fortunately I had the cell phone and Chuck Caron was available and quickly was able to join me, and fortunatey the bird was refound and I was able to take a few photos w/ Chuck's camera. Chuck relayed the phtos and I posted a few on my blog (tpirro.blogspot.com).   The bird was first seen in the crown of a maple, then moved to an Oriental Bittersweet covered apple tree in the middle of the small field, then landed in some brush beside the road about 20 feet away...then dissappeared. Chuck then refound it low in the brush on the far side of the field where it appeared to feed a bit and remained perched until we left.   Any visiting please be CAREFULL PARKING on this NARROW road and please STAY ON THE ROAD. (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/22/10 -- Oxford
    This afternoon around 3:30 I had 4 Ringnecked Pheasants (all males) on Joe Jenny road Oxford right before the 200 Sportsman Club . (report from Michael Joubert).

    12/19/10 -- Lake Quinsigamond/Flint Pond complex, Shrewsbury/Grafton
    Today we decided to poke around the LAKE QUINSIGAMOND / FLINT POND complex. Bruce DeGraff, Kevin Bourinot and Laura Lane did an amazing job covering this area for the WORCESTER CBC and it seemed there were lots of birds, especially waterfowl around. THAT SAID, this is a difficult place to bird, as good views of critical spots are tough to come by, and formerly accessible spots, like the "Irish Dam" at Flint Pond are getting harder to access because of recent development and the posting of recent "NO TRESSPASSING" signs. Birds were also "on the move" as these ponds continue to freeze in the cold temps. Birders have to be creative in getting good looks at key spots. I saw many of the same species recorded yesterday, but I am not sure they were the same individuals as I recorded them in different locations. I also added some species.
  • Birds recorded: Great Blue Heron (1:extremely cold looking individual at the very north end of L. Quinsig); Canada Goose (452); Mute Swan (17); Gadwall (1m+2f); A Black Duck (53); Mallard (787); N Shoveler (1 f at north end of Quinsig+1f/1m Flint); Ring-necked Duck (19); Lesser Scaup (1f); Bufflehead (1f); C Goldeneye (21); Barrow's Goldeneye (2f: Kevin did a great job photo-documenting these birds); Hooded Merganser (77); Common Merganser (1); A Coot (2); Wilson's Snipe (1: ours was at the very north end of Quinsig, viewed from across from the gravel company. There are likely a couple around this area); Belted Kingfisher (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (1); Carolina Wren (3); N Mockingbird (1); COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (1m); A Tree Sparrow (11); Song Sparrow (18); Swamp Sparrow (8); White-throated Sparrow (74); Dark-eyed Junco (43); N Cardinal (18);
  • THEN: we worked downtown and found 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS: 1 perched atop the "L" on the PEOPLE'S UNITED BANK building, on the side facing the train station. Then, as we were watching that bird, another adult flew overhead, as if migrating, heading east.
  • At SOUTH BAY, WACHUSETT RESERVOIR: Common Goldeneye (25); Barrow's Goldeneye (1m now joined by a female. Sheila got good shots of the drake yesterday and distant, but identifiable shots of both birds today); Hooded Merganser (10).
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    12/17/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
    There have been a flock of common goldeneyes on Wachusett in south bay for the past week. Today there were 6 males and 1 female, last Saturday there was a total of 16. Five hooded mergs were also in the group. (report from Jean Holm).

    12/16/10 -- Gardner
    This morning amongst a flock of approx. 25 cedar waxwings were at least 4 Evening grosbeaks, feeding on fruit and berries on Pearson Blvd around Horrigan cleaners ,TD North bank and across the street next to Gardner Motors. As I tried to stop to get a better look a truck released its air brakes and the flock flew off. There may have been more grosbeaks. I often see waxwings in these trees so this flock might be worth keeping an eye on. (report from Dick Knowlton).

    12/16/10 -- Whalom Lake, Luneneburg
    An impressive roost of waterfowl continues at Whalom lake. This evening, mostly arriving after dusk:   Canada Goose   ~300; Wood Duck   9 minimum; Black Duck   ~30; Mallard  ~1200; Mallard x Black hybrid 6 minimum (likely many more went undetected as moany more mallards arrived in very poor light); Hooded Merg. 5-10; Common Merg. 5-10;   Bald Eagle 2 adults.   The Lake is nearly frozen now, but one small open area near the Water Front was open. Yesterday the Lake was 90% open. Also, yesterday was a Northern Pintail.  (report from Tom Pirro).

    12/16/10 -- Lake Ripple, Grafton
    I found a mature bald eagle yesterday (12/15) at Lake Ripple in Grafton, and it was still present today. It was perched at the end of Bernard Road, very near an American flag on a pole, making for a great visual. Could not get a great photo -- private property and looking into the sun. No open water left on the lake, but some on the Quinsigamond River. Would expect this bird to move south down to the Blackstone River shortly. (report from Scott Jordan).

    12/11/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir
    Broad Meadow Brook Audubon trip to Wachusett Reservoir turned up Single Long-tail duck with numerous gulls and mallards off north end of North Dike, 3 common mergs, common loon, imm. Bald Eagle, 24 Hooded Mergs., 3 Common goldeneye. Small pond behind water treatment building on rt. 110 by Clinton HS (Ed: a.k.a "the pond that never freezes") turned up hooded merg, wood duck, common goldeneye, 1 A. Wigeon amongst many Mallards and Black ducks. Thanks Mark Lynch for the tip! (report from Alex Dunn).

    12/11/10 -- SOUTHBRIDGE
    While doing some scouting around the eastern areas of the STURBRIDGE CBC circle, we found a Greenland Greater White-fronted Goose among a flock a Canadas in the Quinebaug River at Westville Dam Army Corps of Engineers property in SOUTHBRIDGE. It is very possible this bird will roost with the hundreds of other geese at Orlandos Pond in Charlton, where the Barnacle Goose was a few years back.

    On a side note: we started the day in the city of Worcester just before dawn with a BARRED OWL flying across Flagg Street, just a few blocks from my house. It perched along a stream and Sheila got some nice shots. We ended the day again in the city of Worcester looking at a red phase Eastern Screech Owl sunning itself in a Wood Duck box. While we were studying that, 2 FISH CROWS flew overhead with American Crows going to roost. Formerly absent from the County, Fish crows appear to have followed the Blackstone up from East Providence/Providence a few years back. There were at first only scattered reports, and now this winter they are being reported in the vicinity of the Blackstone watershed and the wastewater treatment facility along Rt. 146 near the intersection of Rt. 20 and The Fair shopping area with some regularity.
    (report from Mark Lynch).

    12/8/10 -- Sutton
    There have been a few crows with white wing patches reported in Sutton around Winwood Road. Large roosts have been feeding around 9-10 am in grassy yards. (report from Susan LaBree).

    12/7/10 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester
    There is a red morph Screech Owl in Leesville Pond at All Faith's Cemetery. It spends its daytime hours in a wood duck box. Tonight, I saw photos of it taken by my husband's cousin who works at Pobco. The back of Pobco is the pond and the owl is often seen leaving the nest box around 8 am and again around dusk. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

    12/7/10 -- Village of Manchaug, Sutton
    This afternoon I had 2 Fox Sparrows and 1 White-Throated Sparrow among the regulars at my feeders, and also still have large numbers of Pine Siskins . (report from Michael Joubert).

    12/5/10 -- Brookfields/Sturbridge/Charlton/Leicester
    We spent the day birding a few of the ponds in the STURBRIDGE CBC circle (to be held December 14). The water is certainly starting to freeze, even on the larger bodies of water, and after this upcoming week of below freezing temps, open water for the count will be hard to come by.
  • LAKE WICKABOG (Brookfields): Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (46); Mallard (45); A Black Duck (6); Hooded Merganser (15); Common Merganser (224); Bald Eagle (1ad); Ring-billed Gull (48); Herring Gull (12); Great Black-backed Gull (3);
  • LAKE QUABOG (Brookfields): Mute Swan (3); Mallard (87); A Black Duck (1); Greater Scaup (2); Bufflehead (3); C Goldeneye (3); Common Merganser (128); Ring-billed Gull (8); Great Black-backed Gull (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Pine Siskin (6);
  • LAKE QUACUMQUASIT/SOUTH POND (Brookfields/Sturbridge): Mallard (44);
  • HAMILTON RESERVOIR (Holland): Canada Goose (67); Mallard (46); A Black Duck (1); C Goldeneye (4); Hooded Merganser (62); Common Merganser (41); Ruddy Duck (14); Ring-billed Gull (5);
  • ORLANDO'S POND (Charlton): Canada Goose (549: NO possible Cackling or any thing else. But it was only 1PM); Mallard (360); A Black Duck (35); Ring-billed Gull (146: NONE wing tagged);
  • LAKE WICKABOG (Brookfields): Canada Goose (64); Mallard (54); Bufflehead (2); Hooded Merganser (62); Common Merganser (6); Ring-billed Gull (31);

    On the way home:

  • KETTLEBROOK RESERVOIR#2 (Leicester): Great Blue Heron (1); Hooded Merganser (2); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1);
  • WORCESTER AIRPORT: Red-tailed Hawk (1); Horned Lark (4); A Robin (30+: more flying in); Cedar Waxwing (12);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    12/5/10 -- Millbury
    I had a Fish Crow calling over my head on Elmwood St., in Millbury today, and had another Fish Crow flyover at the Singletary boat ramp yesterday (12/4). They are still present at the Fair Plaza near the intersection of Rt 20 and Greenwood St in Worcester. (report from Alan Marble).

    12/5/10 -- All Faiths Cemetery, Worcester
    This morning I saw: 3 Green-winged Teal, 2 N. Pintail, 1 D.C. Cormorant, 8 Black Duck and 2 Hooded Merganser. On Flint Pond in Shrewsbury, there were: 25 Hooded Merganser, 14 Common Merganser, 48 Black Duck and 17 Female Common Goldeneye. (report from John Shea).

    12/4/10 -- Village of Manchaug, Sutton
    Among all the regulars and growing horde of Siskins at my feeders this afternoon I had a lone Fox Sparrow sticking out like a sore thumb, scratching on the ground with the Juncos and Pinesiskins . (report from Michael Joubert).

    12/3/10 -- Village of Manchaug, Sutton
    Around 6:15 this morning I could hear Crows mobbing something in the woods behind my house. As these woods are hunted on a regular basis, I grabbed an hunter orange jacket and hat and went out to take a quick look around . In about 10 minutes I got real close to where the Crows were. I expected to find an Owl or Hawk and was surprised to see a Common Raven in a crotch of big oak surrounded by Crows. I let my presence known and all left the area. I ended up heading towards  Stevens Pond  up by the water tower where there is good mix of conifer and hardwood. In a large pine I could see some bird movement. I glassed them good to find 3 Red crossbills ( 2 male and 1 female ). I figured I'd call it a day and headed back home . While still in the woods behind my house I could see Pine Siskins all over my feeders -- best guess count was between 35 to 40 . (report from Michael Joubert).

    12/3/10 -- Brierly's Pond, Millbury
    There is a 1st-cycle Glaucous Gull at Brierly's Pond in Millbury this morning. It was discovered by Strickland Wheelock and word came to me through Beth Milke. It was there at 8 a.m. and still there when I left at 9 a.m. (report and photo from Alan Marble).

    For previous sightings, see November 2010 Archives or Archive Index