December 2014 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:

12/6/14 -- Talk by Dr. Mark Pokras on caring for injured wild animals. Held at Summer Star Wildlife Sanctuary in Boylston.

Bird Sightings:

12/31/14 -- Prescott St, Rutland: At 2 pm there was a red-shouldered hawk. I was also surprised by a mockingbird in my yard. (report from Jane Fitzgerald).
12/29/14 -- Sudbury Reservoir, Southborough: We spent this morning hiking and birding around the SUDBURY RESERVOIR in SOUTHBOROUGH and recorded the following: Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (196); Mute Swan (5); Mallard (19); Redhead (2m); Ring-necked Duck (139); Greater Scaup (6); Lesser Scaup (20); Bufflehead (18); C Goldeneye (38); Hooded Merganser (16); Common Merganser (481); Ruddy Duck (1); Wild Turkey (2); Belted Kingfisher (2); Winter Wren (2); Yellow-rumped Warbler (1); Pine Siskin (4);
NB: I was watching a drake MALLARD furiously tussle with something underwater. Every once in a while I could glimpse an edge of a body , but it was kept well below the surface with the Mallard's bill. Did it have hold of the Mallard? Was it a huge fish? A number of minutes went by and finally a FEMALE MALLARD escaped the drake's hold, looking totally messed up. The male had been mating with the female WHILE SHE WAS HELD COMPLETELY UNDERWATER. I was surprised she wasn't drowned.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
12/26/14 -- Sudbury Reservoir, Southboro: Today at the intersection of White Bagley Road and Route 9 there were 2 Male Redheads. (report from Peter Morlock).
12/23/14 -- Big Chauncy,W estboro: This morning there were 6 American Coots at the northern end of the pond. (report from Pete Morlock).
12/22/14 -- Wachusett Reservoir: A quick tour of WACHUSETT RESERVOIR this morning produced the following: Common Loon (6); Canada Goose (40); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (1); Ring-necked Duck (1m); Greater Scaup (77); White-winged Scoter (2: present since the Worcester CBC. Best seen from Gate 37); Common Goldeneye (66); Hooded Merganser (12); Common Merganser (4); Cooper's Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Belted Kingfisher (2); Pine Siskin (1);
Still no sign of the 2 Redheads found by Kevin Bourinot at Coachlace Pond or at Bart's Pond in Clinton. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
12/21/14 -- Westminster: On the Westminster x-mas count I found a few hundred gulls on Wyman's pond off Patricia Road. At 11 am there was a snow white Glaucous Gull mixed in with about 150 herring and 50+ Great Blacked Gulls, (only 1 Ring-billed) At 3:30 pm the flock was still there but no Glaucous. Instead there was "light coffee" colored Iceland Gull. Went back at 4:15 and there were 4! Iceland Gulls, all the same plumage. There was a small swath of open water to which they were actively bathing. It's very unusual to have open water on this pond and given the upcoming weather, I see no reason why these birds shouldn't continue. Heading north on rt. 140, Patricia Road is approximately a mile past the road leading to Mt. Wachusett ski area. The road sign is obscured by tree branches. If you reach Worcester Road on your left (goes to meetinghouse pond) you have gone too far. (report from Rodney Jenkins).
12/18/14 -- Northbridge/Grafton: I had two Common Raven flying north about 50 feet up, along Rt 122 at the Northbridge/Grafton line today. (report from Scott Ricker).
12/13/14 -- Bart's Pond, Clinton: This morning I checked out Bart's Pond (aka The Pond that never freezes) and found some Mallards, Buffleheads and a Male Redhead. (report from Peter Morlock).
12/8/14 -- Westminster: Yesterday (12/7) on Round Meadow Pond, at dusk, there was a first wnter Iceland Gull (likley the same that been in the area for a week now) with a few dozen Herring and a single Great Black-backed Gull. Also present were 9 Hooded mergansers and a Common Goldeneye. The pond 80-90% ice covered.
Today (12/8), a Great Black-backed Gull was still present, but was in the possession of and being consumed by an adult Bald Eagle.
(report from Tom Pirro).
12/7/14 -- Northboro/Westboro/Marlboro: Today we had intended to bird Bolton Flats. When we got there we found the Rt. 117 parking lot entrance flooded as well as the path from the Rt. 110 entrance. You need wellies to get in and after this upcoming nor'easter, it is likely to be much worse. So, we decided to bird some ponds:
HARVARD: BARE HILL POND Canada Goose (13); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (28); Driving around the pond, there were lots of sparrows including (1) Fox Sparrow as well as (6) siskins feeding on the road.
MARLBORO: FORT MEADOW RESERVOIR: Mute Swan (1); Mallard (18); Ring-necked Duck (4); Bufflehead (2f); Hooded Merganser (69); Common Merganser (7);
NORTHBORO: BARTLETT POND Mute Swan (2);
NORTHBORO: LITTLE CHAUNCY POND Mute Swan (4); Hooded Merganser (45); Common Merganser (14 overhead, likely from Chauncy Lake); ALSO: 3 River Otters.
WESTBORO: CHAUNCY LAKE: Fishermen were out on a boat and probably flushed some waterfowl Common Loon (1); Mute Swan (5); Mallard (7); Hooded Merganser (3); Common Merganser (42: being heavily kleptoparasitized by Ring-billed Gulls);
WESTBORO: SuAsCo Mute Swan (77); Canada Goose (50)
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
12/7/14 -- Oakham: One kingfisher was heard along the Five Mile River. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).
12/6/14 -- Quabog IBA, Brookfields: Today we did some pre Sturbridge CBC scouting in the QUABOG IBA, primarily around the four major Brookfields ponds. The weather was lousy with almost non-stop showers and rain. We had the following: Great Blue Heron (1: north end of Lashaway); Canada Goose (60); Mute Swan (4); Mallard (54); NORTHERN PINTAIL (27: all at Wickabog: good count for this late in the County); Hooded Merganser (195); Common Merganser (26); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Ring-necked Pheasant (1m: obvious released bird); Ring-billed Gull (104); Herring Gull (13); Great Black Backed Gull (2adW); Belted Kingfisher (2). Landbirds were pretty typical, though there were good numbers of juncos and Tree Sparrows. We also had (1) Gray catbird behind the ballfield in the Elm Hill sector and a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds (40+) in the Quacumquasit WMA. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
12/5/14 -- Gardner/Templeton: Today near Elliot Hill in Templeton: Red-shouldered Hawk (2 Adults looked to be migrating); Northern Shrike (1 Adult)
In Gardner both 12/3 and 12/4: A first winter type Iceland "kumlien's" Gull was present on Crystal lake in just after noontime. Likely the same gull was present on Round Meadow Pond in Westminster on 11/30.
(report from Tom Pirro).
12/4/14 -- Gail drive, Holden: At Gail drive/Chaffin pond today between 7am-4pm, birds included: Brown creeper,Red breasted nuthatch,Ruby crowned kinglet,Carolina wren,Cowbird,Hooded merganser,Ring necked duck,Mute swan,Red tailed hawk,Coopers hawk,Sharp shinned hawk. (report from Scott Corazzini).
12/4/14 -- Worcester Airport: There was a SNOWY OWL at the Worcester Airport this morning. Seen from Mulberry and Route 56. A friend that works at the airport also was tasked to keep the bird off the active runways. Bird was then at the back of the airport on an unused runway (D) near the 15-23 sign. (report from Justin Lawson).