Fall 1998 Central Mass Bird Sightings

Sightings in reverse chronological order:

11/28/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
Highlights included 1 GREAT HORNED OWL, 4 Carolina Wren, 29 American Tree Sparrow, 2 Common Grackle (report from John Liller).

11/26/98 -- Gate 35, Wachusett Reservoir, Sterling
Birds seen included Common Loons, horned grebe, 13 hooded mergansers, 48 common goldeneye, 3 black scoters, 1 golden crowned kinglet, 20 american robins (report from Richard Spedding).

11/22/98 -- Gate 35, Wachusett Reservoir, Sterling
Birds Seen: common loon, horned grebe,cormorant, goldeneye, bufflehead, and the bird of the day was a BLACK BELLIED PLOVER. The plover was at the waters edge, at the sandy point of land at Tahonto Point. (report from Richard Spedding).

11/21/98 -- Dark Brook Reservoir, Auburn
A quick tour around the reservoir yielded the following today: 18 Ruddy Duck, 2 Hooded Merganser, and 1 Double-crested Cormorant (report from Paul Meleski).

11/18/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
Two SCREECH OWLS were found during an evening walk (report from John Liller).

11/8/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
Highlights included 1 HOUSE WREN (latest Sanctuary record), 1 WINTER WREN, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 GRAY CATBIRD (latest Sanctuary record), 21 American Tree Sparrow, 5 Red-winged Blackbird, 46 Common Grackle (report from John Liller).

10/31/98 -- Gardner and vicinity
Highlights included 1 C. Loon (migrant over Philipston), 2 Snow Goose (at Mount Wach Comm. Coll. ), 14 Horned Lark (Templeton ), 24 Wild Turkey (Templeton), ..and Hawk Watching between 8:15 and 9:45 at Wompanoag MAS in Garnder there were: 4 Sharp Shinned Hawk, 2 Red-Shouldered Hawk (both Adults), 4 Red-Tailed Hawk , 1 Rough-Legged Hawk (Light Phase, being harassed by a Sharpie and a Red-tail), 2 Common Loon, and 1 Raven. (report from Tom Pirro)

10/27/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
Highlights included 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2 Eastern Bluebird, 2000 + Red-winged Blackbird. (report from John Liller)

10/24/98 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
An adult NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen today on MDC land  near Sterling Peat  in Sterling, Mass.  Park on Muddy Pond Road near the  intersection of Griffin road and look north  toward the  great blue heron nest in the dead tree.  Also seen that day at the same location were a Cooper's hawk , a Sharp-Shinned hawk, an Osprey and a Snipe.  (report from Richard Spedding)

10/24/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
Highlights included 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 3 Eastern Bluebird, 13 Hermit Thrush, 249 American Robin, 1 BLUE-HEADED VIREO (latest record for the Sanctuary, by 2 days), 6 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 5 Palm Warbler, 1 Field Sparrow (report from John Liller)

10/19/98 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner
Last evening (10-19) on Crystal lake in Gardner were : 1 C. Loon, 2 Am. Wigeon, 1 Red-Breasted Merganser (looked to be an eclipse male), 100's of Gulls (but no Lesser Black-Backed).

Also on 10-20 on Round Meadow Pond in Westminster were: 1 Brant, 4 Ruddy Duck, 5 Wood Duck. Round Meadow Pond is at the juntion of RTE 2 and RTE 140 ( the Wach. Mtn exit) , its the shallow weedy pond on the North side of RTE2. (report from Tom Pirro) (Tpirro@nebs.com)

10/18/98 -- Blackstone Canal, Uxbridge
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was found in the field across the canal from the park headquarters (on Oak Street). A group on a Mass. Audubon field trip got good looks at the bird as it moved from perch to perch, flycatching. It was seen from about 9:00 am to noon. (ID details submitted) (report from John Liller)

10/17/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
Highlights included 10 WOOD DUCK, 4 Eastern Bluebird, 9 Hermit Thrush, 79 American Robin, 1 AMERICAN PIPIT, 2 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 21 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW, 1 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, 23 Dark-eyed Junco (report from John Liller)

10/13/98 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner
This morning 10-13-98 the following birds were noted on Crystal Lake: 1 Common Loon, 1 Horned grebe, 1 Ruddy Duck , 2 Surf Scoter (female types diving for food)

Also 200-300 Gulls on the front lawn of Mount Wachusett Community College included the 3 common species but I have NOT seen the Lesser Black Backed Gull in a few weeks now. In past years it has "disappeared" during the fall for short periods of time only reappear later on. I'll notify this list should it return. (report from Tom Pirro) Tpirro@NEBS.com

10/12/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
Highlights included 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 Carolina Wren, 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 3 Hermit Thrush, 1 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER, 45 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Palm Warbler, 2 Blackpoll Warbler, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 6 Red-winged Blackbird, 3 Common Grackle (report from John Liller).

10/10/98 -- Hodges Village Dam, Oxford
Birding highlights from Hodges Village ACE, Oxford OCT 10 included: 1 Northern Harrier (imm male), 1 Eastern Phoebe, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Hermit Thrush, 1 Eastern Bluebird, 2 Blue-headed Vireo, 1 Pine Warbler, 1 Blackpoll Warbler, 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Eastern Towhee, 23 White-throated Sparrow, 5 Swamp Sparrow (report from Paul Meleski).

10/7/98 -- Institute Park, Worcester
The two PIED-BILLED GREBES are still present. (report from Rick Quimby).

10/6/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
There were 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 58 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, 1 PALM WARBLER, 3 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, and 2 Common Yellowthroat. (report from John Liller).

10/5/98 -- Institute Park, Worcester
Two PIED-BILLED GREBES have been in the pond for several days (report from Rick Quimby).

10/4/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
There were 394 CANADA GOOSE, 1 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 1 OSPREY, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, 3 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 7 EASTERN BLUEBIRD, 1 MAGNOLIA WARBLER, 27 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, 1 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, 9 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 1 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and 3 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. (report from John Liller)

10/2/98-10/4/98 -- Gardner and vicinity
Highlights included:

     Friday 10-2-98
     Osprey                     11      migrating between 1:30 and 2:45 PM
     Perigrine Falcon            1      Adult
     Surf Scoter                 1      Female at Crystal Lake


     Sunday 10-4-98
     Canada Goose               ~500    migrants high over head
     Green Wing Teal            14
     Pectoral Sandpiper         3
     Spotted Sandpiper          1
     Greater Ylw legs           2
     Swainson's Thrush          1
     Hermit Thrush              3
     Cape May Warbler           1
     Mourning Warbler           1       imm.
     Rusty Blackbird            6
     **Bobwhite                 2      a pair Certainly escapees or
                                       released birds.

(report from Tom Pirro).

9/29/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
There were 1 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, 2 Cedar Waxwing, 9 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, 1 PALM WARBLER, 16 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 2 Eastern Towhee, and 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (report from John Liller)

Also, 2 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 4 PALM WARBLERS, 3 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, AND 1 OVENBIRD (report from Rick Quimby).

9/26/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
There were 1 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 1 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 3 NASHVILLE WARBLER, 1 NORTHERN PARULA, 1 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, 1 MAGNOLIA WARBLER, 6 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, 1 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, 18 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 1 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, 2 AMERICAN REDSTART, 1 OVENBIRD, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and 1 WILSON'S WARBLER. (report from John Liller).

9/21/98 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner
Report from Tom Pirro: An Adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (LBBG) put in an appearance on Crystal Lake last evening (9-21) at about 5:30PM. This LBBG is still in breeding plumage , i.e. there is no streaking on the head that I could see. In past years (since 1995) this bird has been fairly consistant at both Crystal Lake (PM) and Mount Wachusett Comm. College (AM).

It was with a mixed flock of approx. 100 Herring and (GBBG) which typically roost on Crystal Lake at night. The best time to look for the bird is early evening till until dark , the number of gulls usually continue to build up until dark. Also , early morning many of these birds gather on the lawn of the Golf course and Mount Wachusett Comm. College , just to the east of Crystal Lake , to feed on Earth Worms.

Directions: From Rte 2 take exit 23 (Gardner exit) take your 1st right (if coming from the east) or 3rd right (From the West) off the rotary and follow a 1/3 mile to the traffic lights and go right (Elm Street) then follow Elm 1 Mile to another rotary and take 3 rd right (off rotary) Rte 101 west follow RTE 101 1/2 mile and go right at the Common. Go another .3 miles and take a right on Crystal Lake Street ( the 1st right after a public swimming pool w/ black chain link fence). This will take you to a cemetary which overlooks the Lake.

9/19/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
There were 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 1 RED-EYED VIREO, 1 TENNESSEE WARBLER, 1 NORTHERN PARULA, 1 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, 1 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, 1 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, 2 PALM WARBLER, 4 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 2 SWAMP SPARROW, and 16 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. (report from John Liller).

9/12/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
There were 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 2 RED-EYED VIREO, 2 NORTHERN PARULA, 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 1 WILSON'S WARBLER. (report from John Liller)

Also, 2 PHILADELPHIA VIREO, 2 CONNECTICUT WARBLER, and 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW. (report by Mark Lynch, Sheila Carroll, and Bill Rasku, fide John Liller)

9/8/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
There were 2 NASHVILLE WARBLER, 2 NORTHERN PARULA, 2 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (report from John Liller).

9/2/98 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
There were 4 NORTHERN PARULA, 1 PALM WARBLER, 5 AMERICAN REDSTART, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and 1 WILSON'S WARBLER (report from John Liller).

For previous sightings, see Summer 1998 Archives or Archive Index