February 2004 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:

• 2/9/04 -- Update on viewing the Painted Bunting in Shrewsbury. Details.
• 2/21/04 -- Birds in Japanese prints at the Worcester Art Museum
• 2/23/04 -- Nancy Ober, longstanding Forbush Bird Club member, passes away

Bird Sightings:

2/29/04 -- Narragansett Bay, RI

Tom Pirro and I decided to get a jump on spring and birded the east side of Narragansett Bay down to Newport today. Numbers are approximate. Highlights: Red-throated Loon 1 (India Point, Providence); Mute Swan; Brant 320 (over 300 in Bullock Cove, E.Prov); American Wigeon ~50 (spread throughout bay); Gadwall Ring-necked Duck 12 (Swan Point, Providence); Greater Scaup 3000 (we found a large flotilla of approx 2000 near E. Prov Sewage Treatment Plant, another 500 nearby, and 500 in Gardiners Pond at Sachuest); Lesser Scaup (we had a few birds mixed in with the Greaters in the large 2000 bird flock, about 50 or less birds); Black Scoter: Only a pair at Sachuest; White-winged Scoter 5; Surf Scoter 9; Harlequin Duck 25-30 birds at Sachuest; Barrow's Goldeneye 1 male at Gardiner's Pond at Sachuest; Common Goldeneye 200 birds spread throughout the Bay;
****also of note: Tom found a Common Barrows hybrid at Swan Point; Bufflehead 500+ birds, many grouped up; Common Merganser ~20; Red-breasted Merganser ~30; Hooded Merganser ~60; Purple Sandpiper ~50 birds at Sachuest; Sanderling 1 at Sachuest; Black-headed Gull 1 at Watchemoket Cove, E Prov; Razorbill 2 at Sachuest; Northern Harrier 3 at Sachuest; Short-eared Owl 1 at Sachuest; Red-winged Blackbird 12-16 birds at dusk; Common Grackle 4 with Red-wings; (report from Paul Meleski).

2/29/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre

I was out walking the dog today at Barre Falls Dam and came across a small flock (maybe up to a dozen) of red crossbills. (report from Rob Lewis).

2/29/04 -- Grafton

After scouring the north shore for 16 hours with the Brookline Bird Club on Saturday, looking for owls on the 5th annual owl prowl, I can report that although we had a great time, the tallies were relatively poor (4 species, 8 total owls) in relation to past years. So, still having owl fever when I woke up on Sunday, I decided to check some of my more reliable spots in Grafton for the first annual Grafton Owl Prowl. I put in about 3 hours in the field and got the following results: 2 Great horned owls..........single birds seen off Worcester Street and Merriam Road; 2 Barred owls....................apparently mated pair off Upton Road, saw 1, heard both; 1 Eastern screech owl........1 heard out my back door near Grafton Center at dusk. (report from Scott Jordan).

2/29/04 -- Hardwick Center & Quabbin Reservoir Gate 40

From the Gate 40 parking Lot to Graves Landing, 11:45 A.M. 5:00 P.M.:
Today was characterized by predominantly overcast skies and gradually warming temperatures accompanied by erratic intervals of sunshine. It seemed representative of the fleeting interval between the nadir of winter and the first hints of spring when Quabbin Reservoir and its environs exude an almost surreal stillness. The saturnine O-KA-LEEEE emanating from a handful of Red-winged Blackbirds sprinting gaily across the leaden sky surrounding Pottapaug Pond shattered the enveloping calm. Commencing roughly 150 yards down Skinner Hill Road from Dana Common, handfuls of Snow Fleas scrabbled about on overlapping patches of leaf-litter and sunny outcroppings of snow.

The juvenile Golden Eagle was a textbook specimen, by every indication having been lifted directly from the pages of Hawks in Flight (Dunne, Sibley & Sutton). I noticed this bird while glassing the vast expanse of sky stretching between the two large clearings situated on either side of Petersham Road, approximately 250 yards south of Dana Common. Sharing the weak thermals with a handful of Turkey Vultures, it tilted cooperatively against the fitful rays of the sun, displaying incandescent white spots on the carpal area of the wing and a jet-black terminal band on an ivory-hued tail.
Highlights: American Robin 14; Barred Owl 1; Brown Creeper 2; Common Raven 3; GOLDEN EAGLE (immature) 1; Golden-crowned Kinglet 7; Hairy Woodpecker 1; Red-breasted Nuthatch 11; Red-winged Blackbird 14; Ruffed Grouse 3; Turkey Vulture 5; (report from Chris Ellison).

2/29/04 -- ponds in Worcester

Stopped at a few ponds to see if there was open water. At Salisbury Pond: Great Blue Heron, Hooded Merganser and Common Merganser. In the back on the right of Notre Dame cemetery there is more water than expected, mostly Mallards, Canada Geese and Black Ducks. At All Faiths cemetery there's open water in the back and on the left, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser and Mallards. (report from John Shea).

2/29/04 -- Pelham Overlook, Quabbin Reservoir

A small group of us spent an hour in the mid-afternoon at the Pelham Overlook of Quabbin on Rt. 202. The lighting and conditions were excellent. Birds seen included: Turkey Vulture (3); Bald Eagle (minimally 5 adults. One flew right over our heads, low, heading apparently for the Connecticut River); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Golden Eagle (1ad); Common Raven (2 right overhead); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/28/04 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton/Sterling

Hiltes from Saturday evening: Common Goldeneye 4 drakes Causeway; Common Merganser ~8 Causeway; Hooded Merganser 6 near River Road; Iceland Gull 1 Adult Causeway; Eastern Bluebird a least 1 calling from near the causeway; Red-winged Blackbird 1 singing Rte 140 Sterling; Common Grackel 1 fly over Rte 140 Sterling. (report from Tom Pirro).

2/28/04 -- Seekonk River, RI

We conducted one of our usual surveys of this river bewteen Providence and E. Providence (southern end of the Blackstone National Corridor); from India Point-Pawtucket border. Many ducks have moved out as of the last survey only 2 weeks back. RED-THROATED LOON (3 far up the Seekonk north of the Ten Mile River outflow. This species is typically very uncommon at the southern end of the Corridor, rare elsewhere in the Corridor); Great Cormorant (16); Mute Swan (19); Canada Goose (253); Mallard (36); Gadwall (8); A. Wigeon (23); Greater Scaup (7); Bufflehead (177); C. Goldeneye (10); Hooded Merganser (3: the big numbers that are found here in the dead of winter and maximal freeze-up are now retreating to smaller open streams inland); Common Merganser (8); Red-breasted Merganser (26); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/28/04 -- WPI/Mobil station, Park Ave, Worcester

While tanking up this AM (6:30); at the Mobil station next to WPI on Park Ave, we had a falcon fly over, then over the A-field and then back to us and perch atop a pine right next to the gas station: an adult MERLIN. (report from Mark Lynch).

2/28/04 --Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton

A (the) pair of Ravens were flying back and forth from the communications tower where they have nested the past 2(plus?) years. They were making lots of noise. While checking the former nest site we noticed a newly constructed (partially constructed?) nest nearby on the tower. Here is a photo of the nest. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

2/27/04 -- Salisbury Pond, Worcester

Inspired by John Shea's posting, I wandered around Salisbury Pond today at noon. I found only two of John's Common Mergs, but I did find two Hoodies and two Great Blues. Also, yesterday I had my first Turkey Vulture of the year over my house off Salisbury St. at the Worc./Holden line. (report from Howard Shainheit).

2/27/04 -- Flint Pont, Shrewsbury

I went looking for some open water on Flint pond and found a few pleasant surprises. At the Irish Dam 4 Hooded Merganser, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Turkey Vulture and 22 Red- winged Blackbirds. At the Route 20 bridge before the light for South Quinsigamond ave. are 4 Common Merganser. Just past Sunset beach off Old Faith Road there is a white duck that I think is a Mallard and a black duck with a white breast? also 2 Mute Swans. Behind Maironis Park across Lake Quinsigamond are 4 A. Coot and a Wood Duck. I stopped at Salisbury Pond on the way by and found 14 C. Merganser. (report from John Shea).

2/24/04 -- Gardner

For the past 4 mornings I've been awoken by the drumming and calling of a Pileated Woodpecker, usually at 6:30 AM.
I've gotten a few personal emails saying the Bohemian Waxwing were seen Sunday afternoon at High Ridge near the Hunter Safey building off Overlook Road in Westminster. On sunday afternoon, 110 were seen were present, and yesterday afternoon at dusk 57 were reported. (report from Tom Pirro).

2/22/04 -- Westminster

Much to my surprise I had a Northern Shrike in my backyard in Westminster on Sunday afternoon. I was traveling on business from Monday until today, so I'm not sure if it's been hanging around or not, but I thought it was an interesting sighting . . . (report from Rob Lewis).

2/22/04 -- Hardwick

Highlights from an afternoon of birding in various sites in eastern Hardwick include Turkey Vulture (1); Ruffed Grouse (3); Great Horned Owl (1); Pileated Woodpecker (1); Hermit Thrush (2, together); American Robin (30) and Eastern Bluebird (6). (report from Chris Buelow)

2/22/04 -- High Ridge WMA

Hilites from some birding in North Worcester County with Fred Bouchard, Jon Damian and myself:

High Ridge Wildlife Management Area (Overlook Road entrance in Westminster): Raven 1; Bohemian Waxwing 80 Near the hunter saftey buildings; Am. Robin ~25; We had great looks at these birds while they fed in Crabapple trees, perched in maples, a hopping on the ground and had the opportunity to listen closely to their surrealistic calls. I never tire of seeing these incredibly handsome birds! We also saw a Red Fox on the walk in.

Baldwinville: we had nice looks at an adult Bald Eagle soaring over town.

Church Hill area : Snow Bunting 27;

Elliot Hill: Wild Turkey 10; Rusty Blackbird 2;

Royalston Center: lots of Blue Jays; Hairy Woodpecker 3; Pine Siskin 1; Plastic Flamigos 2 (1 deluxe model .... origin...probably Leominster); Raven 1;

Gardner: Cedar Waxwing ~40; Common Redpoll 2;

Directions to the Overlook entrance to High Ridge: From Rt. 2 take exit 25 (Rts. 2A and 140) and follow Rt. 2A west for 0.8 mile to the first traffic light in Westminster center. Turn right onto Bacon Street, follow it 0.7 mile, then take a left onto Overlook Road (currently unmarked). Follow Overlook about one mile till it ends at an orange gate. Park here regardless of whether the gate is open, being careful NOT to block the gate or the schoolbus turn-around.
Walk in past the gate and continue straight, the road is plowed so the walk is not too difficult, the walk to the building is about 1/3 to 1/2 mile. The fruit trees are faily close to the building, keep an eye for Evening Grosbeaks and also back in December I had seen a single Pine Grosbeak about a 1/2 mile from this area. (report from Tom Pirro).

2/21/04 -- Blackstone River mainstem, Millbury

We counted ducks along three stops of the BLACKSTONE RIVER mainstem in MILLBURY this morning. This included a short hike in along the bike path. Totals: Great Blue Heron (2); Mallard (769); (MallardXBlack 6); A. Black Duck (62: most along the bike path); N. Pintail (1f: along the bike path); Hooded Merganser (5); Common Merganser (1f); Turkey Vulture (1); Red-tailed Hawk (3); A. Kestrel (1f); PLUS; Muskrat (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/21/04 -- Northampton

An amazing variety of gulls have been appearing at a compost heap in NORTHHAMPTON. Today we had among the Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls (no Ring-billeds): Iceland Gulls (10 minimum); THAYER'S GULL (1 1stW: this is a notoriusly difficult bird to ID and several folks have studied this bird in depth, and it is certainly a good candidate); Other spcies that have been seen here in recent days have included Glaucous and Lesser Black-backed (adW+1stW). This spot can be found on Burts Pit Road, off Rt. 66 south of Rt.9 in Northhapton Center. Drive past the state properties, the road will go up a hill and curve dramatically. The compost heap for Smith College will be obvious on left. Park along the road, well off the road. Do not enter the dump, but scope from edge of road. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/13/04 -- Oxbow NWR, Harvard

On previous visits I've seen many birds feeding along the railroad tracks. I've found corn kernels that I assume fall off the trains. Today there were 6 Turkeys, 2 Cardinals, 7 Juncos, 8 Bluejays and 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker feeding voraciously. There also was a Northern Shrike along the road and a Turkey Vulture flying overhead. (report from Peter Morlock).

2/11/04 -- Riverbend St., Athol

I heard quite a commotion from crows at 2:00 pm. I walked near them out of curiosity and saw what I imagined was a red-tailed hawk. Still wanting a closer look I headed toward the birds only to see what I am sure was a bald eagle being chased away from the tree line by 3 crows. This took place on Riverbend Street, near the corner of Hapgood Street in Athol, MA. (report from Sarah Fox).

2/11/04 -- downtown Worcester

While I was waiting for a cab in front of 6 Chatham Street, a Red-tailed Hawk soared by and eventually landed atop the church across the street. No sooner had it done so, than a (the?) adult PEREGRINE FALCON zoomed in, and screaming constantly attacked the hawk severely and quickly drove it off. (report from Mark Lynch).

2/10/04 -- Northbridge

The only sighting of note at the Northbridge WWTP yesterday evening on my way home from work was an American kestrel, which I watched buzz a very large red taileded hawk, while the hawk was alighting on a white pine snag. The kestrel was incredibly tiny by comparison. (report from Scott Jordan).

2/10/04 -- Grafton

In addition to all of the common winter birds, I saw a hermit thrush while working in the woods off East Street in Grafton today. (report from Scott Jordan).

2/9/04 -- Royalston

Donna Schilling and I saw the target birds in Royalston on Monday morning. There were 35-40 Bohemian Waxwings, 10-15 Evening Grosbeaks, 20-25 Common Redpolls and 1 Northern Shrike. All were seen at the north end of town high in the trees. They did not stay in one place for very long. (report from Bart Kamp).

2/9/04 -- Shrewsbury

I saw the Painted Bunting briefly at 4:00. Also, there are 2 A. Coot behind Maironis Park across Lake Quinsigamuond along with many Mallards, Black Ducks and some Canada Geese. Someone puts a pump in the water to keep it from freezing. (report from John Shea).

2/8/04 -- Ballard Street, Worcester

We checked out the Ballard Street recycling center off Rt. 146 this afternoon. Though waxwings and robins were still there, the flocks were much smaller than yesterday: Cedar Waxwing (125+), A. Robin (70+) plus the resident Red-tailed Hawk. No sign of the single Bohemian we found yesterday. Prior to this, we checked areas of Douglas and Sutton (west of Rt. 146) for waxwing flocks with no success. The only bird of interest seen was a C. Raven in Douglas. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/8/04 -- Ballard Street, Worcester

I went down to the recycle place on Ballard st. in Worcester and found 100+ Cedar Waxwings but no Bowhemian. There were also 45 Robins. (report from John Shea).

2/7/04 -- Royalston

Hilites from some afternoon birding in the Royalston area:

Royalston Center: Common Raven 2; Bohemian Waxwing 10; Common Redpoll 18; Am. Robin 2; and many of the typical feeder birds

Near Divoll Sugar house 4 or 5 miles away was a group of at least 24 Common Ravens, the most I've seen in spot in north central mass, other than Mt. Watatic during fall hawkwatching. Also, ~20 Am. Robins. 34 American Robins were seen flying to roost from the Birch Hill dam at dusk. (report from Tom Pirro).

2/7/04 -- southern end of Blackstone Corridor

We conducted on our standard surveys of the Seekonk River from India/Bold Points to the Pawtucket River. This is the southern end of the Blackstone National Corridor.

ROUTE 146: FROM WORCESTER TO RI BORDER: Red-tailed Hawk (15); RT. 146 IN RI TO PROVIDENCE: Red-tailed Hawk (4);

SEEKONK RIVER SURVEY: Great Cormorant (15); Mute Swan (20); Gadwall (12); A. Wigeon (71: many were out on the grasses at the two points); Mallard (77); A. Black Duck (161); Ring-necked Duck (3); Canvasback (132); Bufflehead (118); Common Goldeneye (49); Barrow's Goldeneye (1f); Hooded Merganser (72); Common Merganser (31); Red-breasted Merganser (73); Ruddy Duck (22); Bald Eagle (1ad); Red-tailed Hawk (3, 1 feeding on something out on the ice); Peregrine Falcon (1ad out on ice); Ring-billed Gull (848); Herring Gull (647); ICELAND GULL (1adW+1 istW); LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (1adW); Great Black-backed Gull (206); E. Screech Owl (1 red ph); A. Crow (350++); Fish Crow (23 minimal); ALSO: HARBOR SEAL (1 off Bold Point). On the way home we also had (1) Raccoon crossing the ice at Salisbury Point, heading towards the island). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/7/04 -- Ballard Street, Worcester

While picking up sand at the city recycle center on Ballard Street (old RT. 146 now), we found a HUGE flock of Cedar Waxwings (c.250) with about (100 A. Robins). We managed to find (1) BOHEMIAN WAXWING in and among them. The flock was constantly breaking up and moving around and eventually when a Red-tailed Hawk flew by, the waxwings took off. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/6/04 -- Fitchburg

On 2/6/04 in the height of the snow and ice storm, undaunted by the weather, these Common Redpolls continue to visit on a daily basis. (report and photo from Cheryl and Jean-Pierre Boissy

2/5/04 -- Louisa Lake Park, Milford

Bev and I stopped at Louisa Lake Park and took a picture of the Black-headed Gull (report and photo by Bob Ricci).

2/3/04 -- Grafton St., Shrewsbury

Yesterday, Tuesday, I stood on Grafton Street Shrewsbury for over an hour with no luck [with Painted Bunting] (1:10 to 2:20 PM). This was my second visit with no luck yet! (report from Laura Lane).

2/3/04 -- Grafton Common

Curious as to whether the screech owl I heard the other night was just passing through and had moved on, or had adopted our residential neighborhood near Grafton Common, my wife and I played a screech owl recording twice from our front porch this evening at about 6 pm. After playing the recording just once, we were instantly rewarded with a trill response from a very small wooded patch in the neighbors yard. The second recording actually brought an owl into a tree in our yard, approximately 75 feet away. The best part, however, was that while we were looking at the owl that had just flown into the yard, we heard another whinnying in the woods nearby. I seem to remember that the literature I have seen suggests that screech owls pair up around here in March, although my experience seems to show that a pair bond may have formed in Grafton already. Rest assured, that I will no longer play the recording now that it is apparent that these owls have established a territory near me. (report from Scott Jordan).

2/2/04 -- Callahan State Forest, Marlborough

On an afternoon walk through Callahan State Forest near the Marlborough/Framingham border, I saw a Barred Owl sitting in a tree right next to the trail. (report from Laura Lane).

2/2/04 -- Holden

The Barred Owl continues to visit our backyard. The bird has been seen at least three times since January 1. He spent the entirety of 1/25 sitting in a Maple tree and left as dusk approached. Today, he was back in the same spot and I suspect will be there until dusk. (Report from Steve Olson).

2/1/04 -- Grafton

I had an eastern screech owl trilling in a small wooded area adjacent to my back yard near Grafton Common this evening at about 6 pm. I have not heard one in this area in a couple of years and will be watching closely to see if my nest box gets used this year. (report from Scott Jordan).

2/1/04 -- Shrewsbury/Milford/Bolton

In Shewsbury, the Painted Bunting was present at about 9AM in front of the white house (#768) but we viewed it from the Right side of 764...this allows viewing of the bottle feeder in back of 764 and the feeders in front of 768 from the same vantage point, while remaining some what inconspicuous to the residents.

In Milford, the Black headed Gull was present at Louisa Lake park. Also present were several Am. Robins and a Hermit thrush.

At Bolton Flats: Red-tailed Hawk 4; Common Flicker 3; Am. Robin 8; Northern Shrike 1 adult; Red-winged Blackbird ~10-20; Common Grackle ~75; Snow Bunting 25; Swamp Sparrow 1. There was another shrike, this one an Immature Northern Shrike in Harvard along the road that leads to the Still River Canoe Launch. (report from Tom Pirro).

For previous sightings, see January 2004 Archives or Archive Index