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.
- 12/31/99 -- Rutland
-
This A.M., about 8:00, we observed 10-12 redpolls at our feeder and
approx.15-20 robins in the backyard eating the red berries from the
alder bushes/trees. (report from Maureen and Ted Gustafson).
- 12/30/99 -- Rowley Hill , Sterling
- There were 1 great horned owl, 1 Coopers hawk,
75 robins, 1 red breasted nuthatch, and pine siskins. (report
from Richard Spedding).
- 12/29/99 -- Johnny Appleseed's rest area, Lancaster
-
I took an early lunch today and swung by the Johnny Appleseed rest stop
, its in Lancaster. The Bohemian Waxwing was still present on the east
side , to the right side of the entrance to the rest area. It was
perched in some oak trees and was associated with between 30 and 40
Cedar Waxwings. There are some "berry trees" just to the right as you
enter , some Cedars were feeding on these while others and the Bo
Waxwing was resting in the oak trees.
This rest area is between exits 35 and 34. Up near exits 36 there is a
good amount of berries and a flock of Cedars have been there off and on
for the past few weeks. Should the rest stop fail this could be an
altternative.
Thanks to Steve Leonard and Joe Paluzzi for the report and
good directions.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 12/28/99 -- Worcester Airport Hill
-
Early afternoon we checked Worcester Airport Hill and found a
flock of easily
200+ Cedar Waxwings and 100+ American Robins in a feeding frenzy on the crab
apples along Airport Drive (Rt. 122 end). This area bears watching for
possible Bohemian Waxwing and other species.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 12/26/99 -- Hardwick
-
We had 12 Common Redpolls observed throughout the
day at a feeder near the center of town. (report from Chris Buelow)
- 12/26/99 -- Gardner area
-
Yesterday Paul Pinault and I birded the north side of Gardner of the
Westminster CBC. Owling was about usless as high winds made listening
about impossible , but the sky yielded 3 meteors. It was tough going all
day as high winds continued all day.
The highlites in our area only (among 30 species and 903 individuals):
Common Merg. 27 (26 ad. males and 1 female in flight);
Cooper Hawk 1 imm;
Pileated Woodpecker 1;
Am. Robin 14;
Golden Crn Kinglet 1 (been a tough winter for this species up
here);
N. Shrike 1 ( off Smith street at High Ridge WMA);
C. Redpoll 47;
E. Grosbeak 22;
White thr. Sparrow 2.
A few species with low figures were Blue Jay ... we had 1 all day! And
Gull numbers are way down in the area with the closure of the Gardner
Landfill , I believe the count wide #'er for Gulls was probably about
10% of recent years.
Also, on the morning of 12-27-99 I saw a Carolina Wren near
Crystal Lake. (I missed
this one yesterday but it was picked up by John Williams on the count)
Also in Groton the morning of 12-27-99 I saw a N. Shrike
perch on a tree top
near the corner of Rte225 and Broad Meadow Road.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 12/26/99 -- City of Worcester
-
Before dawn at the north end of Broad Meadow Brook:
Great Horned Owl (1); N. Saw Whet Owl (1-2: Note: we called one in along the
north end of the "Stretch", heard and seen; later we called out another along
Granite Street. This could be the same bird or not.
WORCESTER AIRPORT:
Cedar Waxwing (170)
BANCROFT SCHOOL
Cedar Waxwing (35)
ASSUMPTION COLLEGE:
Cedar Waxwing (20)
LAKE QUINSIGAMOND:
Mute Swan (3)
Canada Goose (36)
Wood Duck (pair)
Mallard (253)
A. Black Duck (9)
Ring-Necked Duck (37)
C. Goldeneye (17)
Hooded Merganser (17)
Common Merganser (2)
Note: Lake Quinsig now has the only substantial open water in the city.
GREENHILL PARK:
Canada Goose (405: pond not yet completely frozen)
Red-Tailed Hawk (1).
Sheila and I are now at 197 species for the city for the year.
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 12/23/99 -- Bartlett Pond, Northboro
-
At 4:15 I observed 10 Mute Swans on Bartlett Pond in Northboro.
There have been two there for some time, but now ten!
(report from Ann Boover).
- 12/21/99 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling
- There were 1 sharpshin hawk, 1 barred owl, 1 great
horned owl, cedar waxwings , and pine siskins.
(report from Richard Spedding).
- 12/20/99 -- Dark Brook Reservoir, Auburn
- 2 Mute Swans were sighted on the reservoir (report from
Lynda Fernsten).
- 12/19/99 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston
-
The Tufted Duck has moved from Coachlace Pond in Clinton to the Gate 25/26
area of the Wachusett Reservoir. It was just to the east of the causeway
where rt. 12 crosses the reservoir, on the side opposite the old stone
church. Also, at the intersection of Prescott St. and Shady Lane in West
Boylston, there was an immature Red-headed Woodpecker. To get to this
location, take rt. 12 across the causeway and take the first left (just
past the restaurant "Shanghei Jack's". Continue up this street (Prescott
St.) until you see the Mixter municipal office buildings on your left.
Shady Lane comes in just past this point. (report from Fran McMenemy).
- 12/18/99 -- Worcester Christmas Count 1999
-
The Worcester Christmas Count was held on Saturday, Dec. 18, 1999, with
Fran McMenemy as compiler. Weather was fair, with light winds and
temperatures around 30 deg. F. Ponds were only partially iced over, with
many areas of open water remaining. A record of 82 species were tallied,
surpassing the previous high count of 76 species in 1997. Highlights
included 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Bald Eagle, 1 Merlin, 1
Peregrine Falcon, 1 American Woodcock, 2 Barred Owl, 2 Saw-whet Owl, 1 imm
Red-headed Woodpecker, 5 Northern Shrike, 3 Common Raven, 44 Eastern
Bluebird, 2 Hermit Thrush, 18,859 European Starling (including an estimated
15,000 going to a night time roost), 1 Savannah Sparrow, 1 Fox Sparrow, 193
Common Redpoll, and 6 Pine Siskin.
COMPLETE LISTING AVAILABLE HERE
(report from Rick Quimby).
- 12/18/99 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling
- There were one Coopers Hawk, and several pine siskins.
(report from Richard Spedding).
- 12/17/99 -- Indian Lake, Worcester
-
A morning check of Indian Lake had the following:
Great Blue Heron (4);
Canada Goose (226);
Green-Winged Teal (2);
Mallard (102);
A. Black Duck (8);
N. Shoveler (1);
Gadwall (pair);
American Wigeon (10);
Common Merganser (119);
Hooded Merganser (129);
Red-Tailed Hawk (1);
Ring-Billed Gull (67);
Herring Gull (40);
Great Black Backed Gull (5).
LAKE QUINSIGAMOND: The only birds of interest were a flock of (10) Common
Goldeneyes.
WORCESTER AIRPORT:
Horned Lark (8);
Cedar Waxwing (35+)
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 12/16/99 -- Sturbridge Christmas Count 1999
-
The 4th Sturbridge CC was held on Thursday (the count is always held on the
first weekday of the count period). We rcorded a record 88 species, a high
number for an inland count. The former high was 76 species. Important was the
open water and lack of snow cover as well as mild temps that allowed people
to spend more time out of the car. But the count circle itself is interesting
including sections of the Brookfields, Brimfield, Sturbridge, Charlton,
Spencer, Southbridge, Holland and Wales. 17 species of waterfowl were
recorded including several species new to the count circle and a record
number of Ruddy Ducks. Twelve new species were found and high counts recorded
for 28 species (this is a young count after all).
(all caps=new species to count; *=new count high).
Highlights:
Common Loon (4*. Note this species was only recorded perviously as a "count
week" bird);
HORNED GREBE (1);
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (1);
N. SHOVELER (1f);
CANVASBACK (3);
REDHEAD (1m: present for some time);
OLDSQUAW (1m: Lake Quaboag);
LESSER SCAUP (1);
MERLIN (1);
KILLDEER (1);
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (1adW: southern end of Lake Wickaboag);
Red-Headed Woodpecker (1ad);
Carolina Wren (4: all in West Brookfield);
Winter Wren (1);
Northern Shrike (5*);
GRASSHOPER SPARROW (1: Brookfield flats);
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (1ad).
COMPLETE LISTING AVAILABLE HERE
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 12/14/99 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner
-
This morning a female Red-Breasted Merganser was present along with 5
Common Mergs. on Crystal Lake in Gardner. They were being "followed" by
a few Herring Gulls , who I sure were waiting for one to come up with a
fish to get a "cheap" dinner. The total Gull count was 3 , with the
city land fill currently closed the gull #'s are way down this year.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 12/13/99 -- Pine Island, Hardwick
- A stop near Hardwick center this
morning turned up Evening Grosbeak (25), Carolina Wren (1), Eastern
Bluebird (2), Purple Finch (3), and Song Sparrow (1). (Report from Chris
Buelow).
- 12/13/99 -- Pre-Sturbridge Count
-
A quick check on Orlando's ponds in Charlton produced the following:
Upper Pond: 100% ice cover
Lower Pond: 75% ice cover
Canada Goose (15);
American Black Duck (29);
Mallard (50+);
REDHEAD (1 male still hanging around and making it to Count Week);
GREATER SCAUP (1 female);
Bufflehead (1 male and 6 females);
Ruddy Duck (46);
Ring-billed Gull (71);
Herring Gull (2). (report from John Liller).
- 12/12/99 -- Pre-Sturbridge count
-
At Lower Orlando Pond in Charlton there were, in addition
to Mallards & C. Geese, etc., 100 plus Ruddy Ducks, 6 Bufflehead in pairs,
and the lingering Redhead. (report from Howard Shainheit).
- 12/12/99 -- City of Worcester pond survey
-
A survey of ponds in and contiguous with the city of Worcester today had the
following totals:
Great Blue Heron (7);
Mute Swan (5);
Canada Goose (728);
Mallard (460);
A. Black Duck (55);
Gadwall (6: all at L. Quinsigamond);
N. Shoveler (1 immM: continues at Indian Lake, this time alomng the northern
edge, seen from behind the "Y" parking lot.);
A. Wigeon (13);
Common Goldeneye (3);
Hooded Merganser (156);
Common Merganser (138);
Red-Tailed Hawk (4);
Ring-Billed Gull (567);
Herring Gull (62);
Great Black Backed Gull (17);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
Mourning Dove (a flock of 60 at the water's edge behind N. Dame Cemetary);
Hairy Woodpecker (1);
Blue Jay (12);
A. Crow (64 seen at the ponds);
Black-Capped Chickadee (53);
Tufted Titmouse (8);
White-Breasted Nuthatch (10);
Carolina Wren (2);
A. Robin (1);
N. Mockingbird (8);
A. Tree Sparrow (3: low);
Song Sparrow (9);
Dark-Eyed Junco (39);
House Finch (10);
Pine Siskin (3);
C. Redpoll (8 including 2 that flew over Salisbury Pond);
A. Goldfinch (11);
Evening Grosbeak (1).
Many of the shallow marshy edges of ponds had at least some "skim" ice on
them. Indian Lake continues to host the largest number and best variety of
waterfowl and gulls in the city.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 12/12/99 -- Baldwinville section of Templeton
-
The following were hilites while scouting for the Athol
CBC in the Baldwinville section of Templeton and the Bird Hill WMA in
Winchendon:
C. Goose 120;
Mallard 6;
Black Duck 15;
Hooded Merg. 4;
Com. Merg 1;
RB Nuthatch 2;
Carolina Wren 1;
C. Redpoll 2;
Am. Robin 2;
N. Mockingbird 1;
Song Sparrow 7.
The best surprise was the Carolina Wren my first for the Greater Gardner
Area and a bit overdue. One of the Robins was partially leusistic with the
symmetrical white pattern ( many of the upper wing coverts were
strongly edged in white) on the back and wings ; some small blotches of
white on the breast. Back on 4-3-99 I'd seen a similarly marked Robin on
Norcross hill in templeton which is about 1.5 miles as the Robin Flys
from the 12-12 spot.
Also last week ( 12-5-99) I saw an Am. goldfinch at High Ridge in
Gardner with a white "cap" .
There still a lot of open water in the area along the Otter River and
even Lake Dennison was fully open, whereas in some years people are ice
fishing by now.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 12/11/99 -- Ponds in the Brookfields; Hamilton Res
-
Sheila and I checked a few of the ponds in the Sturbridge CC circle. Water
levels are generally high and as of today there was very little freezing. As
a matter of fact, we noted how wet fields and marshes were. This area must
have picked up a lot of rain during the last storm.
LAKE LASHAWAY(E. BROOKFIELD):
Canada Goose (132);
Mallard (19);
Hooded Merganser (34);
Ruffed Grouse (1 flushed from adjacent woods);
Ring-Billed Gull (6);
Herring Gull (2).
BROOKFIELD FLATS:
Canada Goose (130);
LAKE WICKABOAG(W. BROOKFIELD):
Great Blue Heron (2);
Canada Goose (110);
Mallard (3);
A. Black Duck (11);
Hooded Merganser (26);
COMMON MERGANSER (331);
QUABOAG LAKE:
(note: very choppy and therefore tough to pick out distant ducks)
Canada Goose (128);
Mallard (6);
Ring-Necked Duck (3);
Ruddy Duck (1).
LAKE QUACUMQUASIT:
nothing.
HAMILTON RESERVOIR, HOLLAND
Mallard (4);
A. Black Duck (2);
BLACK SCOTER (1f);
Hooded Merganser (2);
Common Merganser (145);
RUDDY DUCK (293 !).
Though certainly some freezing will occur between now and Thursday's count,
it looks to be a record count for waterfowl. BTW: landbirds were few and very
far between because of the extreme wind. Also: deer hunters were everywhere.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll.).
- 12/11/99 -- Wachusett Reservoir
-
I had an adult Bald Eagle at gate 34 today......
(report from Paul Meleski).
- 12/10/99 -- White-winged Gull at Indian Lake
-
Around 3:30 in the afternoon on Fri I stopped at Indian Lake in Worcester
to check it out.
I noticed one white gull about the size of a ring-billed gull, maybe a
little larger.
About 1/3 or 1/2 of the bill tip was dark , the base was lighter. The bill
was about the same thickness
of a ringed-bill.
The light was awful and it was
raining a little, so my view wasn't under the best conditions. There was no
black on the wing
tips at all. The wings appeared white or possibly a very light gray. The
Gull was swimming.
I watched it for twenty or so minutes before it got dark and I left. I was
at Morgan Park. There
were also Hooded and Common Mergansers, Blacks, and Mallards along with
Canada Geese.
Probable ID: 2nd or 3rd
winter Iceland. (report from Peter Morlock).
- 12/10/99 -- Southbridge Airport, Southbridge
-
One adult N. Shrike has been seen at the end of the Southbridge Airport.
(Opposite end
from the Dump). The bird has been around for several days in the same area.
Also seen were:
144 Cedar Waxwings, 38 A. Robins, 2 N. Mockingbirds, 1 Imm. Red Tail
Hawk,1 Downy Woodpecker, 9 Bluebirds, plus Starlings, Crows, Etc. (Report from
Jim O'Donnell,
Bill Cormier and Rod Chase).
- 12/10/99 -- City of Worcester (west side ponds)
-
A check of a few of the ponds on the western side of the city of Worcester
had the following:
INDIAN LAKE:
Great Blue Heron (6);
Mute Swan (1ad);
Canada Goose (268);
Mallard (86);
A. Black Duck (26);
N. SHOVELER (1 immM);
American Wigeon (10);
Hooded Merganser (136);
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (1f);
Common Merganser (140);
Ring-Billed Gull (154);
Herring Gull (33);
Great Black Backed Gull (4);
Belted Kingfisher (2).
COMMENTS: Numbers of almost all species are decreasing, even though the
weather has been so mild. The Shoveler was in the small pool right under the
dock at Morgan Park offering incredible views. This bird is defintely wild
though. Unlike the Mallards, which swim rapidly towards you as you get out of
the car,the shoveler would not allow a close approach. The Red-Breasted
Merganser was still along the northern end.
COES POND:
Canada Goose (9);
Hooded Merganser (1);
Osprey (1).
COMMENTS: A very poor count. We watched the Osprey dive into the water, come
up with a "sunfish species" and be promptly chased by a Ring-Billed Gull. The
Osprey almost dropped its catch.
CURTIS POND:
Canada Goose (86);
A. Black Duck (8);
Hooded Merganser (29);
Red-Tailed Hawk (1).
COMMENT: The domestic "grey-lag type" breed continues.
LEESVILLE POND:
Great Blue Heron (1);
Mallard (20);
Hooded Merganser (4);
A. Tree Sparrow (5);
Dark-Eyed Junco (30+).
A check of airport hill revealed few birds in dense fog. A check of Hope
Cemetary also turned up nothing.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 12/9/99 -- Worcester Landfill
-
Howard Shainheit and I recorded the following at the Worcester Landfill
and the neighboring wetland yesterday morning (12/9/99):
Great Blue Heron (1 - landed in a tree for a few minutes, far from any
water);
Canada Goose (40 - most feeding on the side of the landfill in a
newly-seeded area);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (2);
Ring-billed Gull (many at the sewage treatment plant and the nearby fast
food joints);
Herring Gull (1);
Rock Dove (many in and about the nearby storage facilities);
Mourning Dove (23);
Downy Woodpecker (2);
Hairy Woodpecker (1);
Northern Flicker (1);
Blue Jay (2);
American Crow (39);
Horned Lark (1);
Black-capped Chickadee (7);
Carolina Wren (1);
Eastern Bluebird (1);
European Starling (many in and about the nearby storage facilities);
American Tree Sparrow (7);
Song Sparrow (3);
Swamp Sparrow (1);
Dark-eyed Junco (3);
Northern Cardinal (1);
House Finch (10);
Common Redpoll (26+ -there was one large flock, but everywhere we walked,
we seemed to have a couple fly over us; they may have been the same birds);
American Goldfinch (8). (report from John Liller).
- 12/6/99 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling
- Both great horned and barred owls were
heard calling. (report from Richard Spedding).
- 12/5/99 -- Burncoat Pond, Worcester
- Today at Burncoat Pond in Worcester, which is visible between Allmerica and
the Burncoat/Lincoln access road to 290, there were 3 Hooded Mergansers, 6+
Mallards, and the resident Great Blue Heron. This is a cool
little pond that never ceases to amaze me. (report from Pat Hackett).
- 12/5/99 - Winimusset WMA, New Braintree
- A morning stop at Winimusset
turned up Northern Shrike (2), Eastern Bluebird (15), Northern Flicker (5)
and Swamp Sparrow (5). Later in the day a flock of Common Redpoll (50)
were observed at Moose Brook in Hardwick. (report from Chris Buelow)
- 12/5/99 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
-
Hilites from some morning birding at the Smith Street end of High Ridge
WMA:
Northern Shrike 1 imm;
Am. Robin 18;
Evening Grosbeak 15-20;
Common Redpoll 50-60 flying over head;
Am. Goldfinch 125;
Swamp Sparrow 2 getting late for these guys up here;
Cedar Waxwing 60;
and 1 dead Great Blue Heron ... just skin , feathers and bone. It'd been
pick clean.
Also, on Saturday 12-4-99 there was an imm. N. Shrike at Tower Hill BG in Boylston
during the afternoon. Its been a good shrike year so far this fall.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 12/4/99 -- Indian Lake, other ponds, Worcester
-
In the midst of succumbing to a wicked cold, Sheila and I counted water birds
at Worcester's Indian Lake. We had the following totals:
Great Blue Heron (6);
Mute Swan (1ad);
Canada Goose (592);
Mallard (253);
A. Black Duck (24);
Gadwall (4: 2 pair);
N. Shoveler (1 imm male);
A. Wigeon (16);
Hooded Merganser (108);
Common Merganser (111);
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (1f: when we saw it, it was along the northern shore);
Ring-Billed Gull (88: low);
Herring Gull (15);
Great Black-Backed Gull (2:low);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
Common Redpoll (50+ feeding in birches at Clason Street Beach: very tame).
Although waterfowl were spread all around, the greatest concentration was
along the northeren shore of Sear's Island and in the NE corner adjacent to
190. This lake continues to host the greatest number and variety of waterfowl
in the city.
Other ponds checked by Sheila and I (in the rain) were:
CURTIS POND:
Canada Goose (34);
Mallard (2);
A. Black Duck (1);
Hooded Merganser (36).
N. DAME CEMETARY:
Canada Goose (22);
Mallard (63);
A. Black Duck (8);
Red-Tailed Hawk (1).
LEESVILLE POND:
Mallard (8);
A. Black Duck (3);
Hooded Merganser (4);
Sharp-Shinned Hawk (1ad).
[Note: much of the southern half of the pond had a layer of ice either on or
just under the water.]
A. Tree Sparrow (40+).
LAKE QUINSIGAMOND:
Mute Swan (2);
Green-Winged Teal (1);
Mallard (75);
A. Black Duck (2);
Hooded Merganser (2);
A. Coot (3).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 12/3/99 -- City of Worcester
-
An early AM check of some areas on the west side of the city had the
following:
INDIAN LAKE:
Great Blue Heron (2);
Mute Swan (1ad);
Canada Goose (512);
Mallard (152);
A. Black Duck (18);
A. Wigeon (13);
Gadwall (pair);
Hooded Merganser (102);
Common Merganser (151);
Ring-Billed Gull (73);
Herring Gull (40);
Great Black Backed Gull (16);
Snow Bunting (1).
Note: As the pond has begun to freeze now, Morgan Park is NOT a good place
to view the ducks, but try the beach at the end of Clason Street or behind
the "Y" instead. The southern bay and inlet as well as "Little Indian" are
now frozen.
WORCESTER AIRPORT:
A. Robin (19);
Cedar Waxwing (150+);
Snow Bunting (8);
C. Redpoll (30+).
COES POND:
Canada Goose (33);
Mallard (7);
Hooded Merganser (14);
Ruddy Duck (1 at south end);
Ring-Billed Gull (60+).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 12/01/99 -- Quabbin Park
- An afternoon trip turned up White-winged
Crossbill (6), and Snow Bunting (20). The surf was very high and the only
waterfowl observed were Common Merganser (10). Also, earlier a Winter
Wren and flyby Red Crossbill were seen at Gate 40, Petersham. (report
from Chris Buelow).
For previous sightings, see
November 1999 Archives or
Archive Index