February 2007 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:

• 2/11/07 -- WICN radio interview: Why people hate pigeons with a passion
• 3/1/07 -- new link to Mass Audubon's Bird Atlas Gateway on the homepage of this web site: check it out to see how you can participate

Bird Sightings:

2/28/07 -- Millbury /Worcester /Paxton

Today started off pretty well with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in the parking lot of the Burger King in Kelley Square in Worcester. I imagine this is the same bird that Mark Lynch had in downtown Worcester a few days ago.

When I got to Worcester State, my professor walked in and cancelled class. No complaints here, so I headed over to Moore State Park. There was nothing of interest there except for 2 Common Ravens flying low near the 56 intersection. I figured I'd check out the Millbury Bike Path to see if there were any different ducks around and right at the begining of the path was a female Common Goldeneye (in the water not ON the path). Another species I didn't see the other day but was present today was a female Bufflehead that came flying low over the Blackstone. Other highlights here included a Winter Wren and several singing birds including Song Sparrows, cardinals, Carolina Wrens, juncos and even a Swamp Sparrow. The parking lot for the bike path is just off of the 122A South/ Millbury Center exit on Rt 146. Head towards the center of Millbury and after the first set of lights it'll be on your right.

Here is the list of highlights from the bike path (I did not keep exact numbers today): Wood Duck - 3 (1m2f sleeping on the shore); American Black Duck ~ 100; Mallard ~ 500; Am Black Duck x Mallard hybrid - 7; Rouen x Mallard hybrid - 1f; Northern Pintail - 5 (2m3f one male was fairly vocal); Green-winged Teal - 2 m/f; Ring-necked Duck ~ 30; Bufflehead - 1f; Common Goldeneye - 1f; Hooded Merganser ~ 15; Common Merganser ~ 20 (they seem to like to hang out on the ice between the two bridges. That sounds like a harlequin novel); Great Blue Heron - 3; Turkey Vulture - 1; Red-tailed Hawk - 2; Great Black-backed Gull - 7; Carolina Wren - 4; Winter Wren - 1 (just after the second bridge on the left); American Robin ~ 20; Northern Mockingbird - 1; Song Sparrrow - 6; Swamp Sparrow - 1; White-throated Sparrow - 1; Dark-eyed Junco - 3;

Bike Path Mammals: White-tailed Deer - 3; Muskrat - 1

Also of note at the feeders as I got home: Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 m/f; Red-winged Blackbird - 1f; Brown-headed Cowbird - 2f.

I posted some pics of the ducks here Starting with the Common Merganser. (report from Dan Berard).

2/28/07 -- Newton Hill (Park Ave side), Worcester

While driving to the radio station this morning and stopped on Park Avenue, we witnessed a Red-tailed Hawk catch a Gray Squirrel and fly up into a tree to tear it apart. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll)

2/27/07 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Highights at noon were 1 GB Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 1 GW Teal, 8 Ring-necked Duck, 8 Common Merganser, and 1 Merlin (perched for good view). (report from Rick Quimby).

2/27/07 -- Worcester

Here is a photo of my now 3+ week resident Brown Thrasher. [Ed. note: see Feb 12 report] (report and photo from Betsy Bronstein).

2/27/07 -- Downtown Worcester

A Peregrine Falcon was perched on top of the microwave tower on top of the phone company building again early this morning. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

2/25/07 -- Linwood/Millbury

While looking for the coot that has been visiting JWhitin Pond in Linwood, along Rte 122, Paul spotted an eastern phoebe skimming the water! It perched in fallen branches near the train trestle, while we marveled at our luck finding the first phoebe of the year. We did not see the coot from that vantage point and decided to continue to the Millbury Bike Path.

As reported earlier, there was a great variety and number of ducks on the Blackstone River between Millbury and Worcester. Mallards definitely ruled the day. There were about two dozen Ring-necked Ducks at the Millbury end of the Bike Path. There were also some black ducks, common mergansers, hooded mergansers, and thankfully just a few Canada geese. The River flows alongside the Bike Path here, so we were rewarded with long, close views of several northern pintails and a pair of green-winged teal. Three, possibly four great blue herons were on or over the River in this area. Several red-tailed hawks were seen during our very enjoyable two-hour jaunt.
(report from Beth Milke).

2/25/07 -- downtown Worcester

Returning from the South Shore through downtown Worcester at about 4PM we had 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS seen simultaneously. One was perched on the microwave relay tower of the phone building and the other was perched on the edge of the Bank North building on Main Street. Both were adults. (report from Mark Lynch).

2/24/07 -- Blackstone National Corridor: Seekonk River/Turner Reservoir

We conducted a standard point count of the Seekonk River between Providence and East Providence, ending at Bold Point, the southern end of the Blackstone National Corridor. There was an interesting VARIETY of waterfowl, but numbers of soem species were a bit on the low side. The weather was windy and bitter cold. Red-throated Loon (2: both up in the Seekonk, 1 opposite the Ten Mile River outflow); Great Cormorant (33: many in breeding plumage); Mute Swan (11: low); Canada Goose (682); Mallard (95); American Black Duck (88: low); Gadwall (51: higher than typical numbers); American Wigeon (4); Greater Scaup (1m: low); Canvasback (1f); Bufflehead (60: on the low side); Common Goldeneye (6: low); Hooded Merganser (38); Common Merganser (43); Red-breasted Merganser (46: modest numbers starting to move up into the Seekonk, a sign that early spring is not far away); Ruddy Duck (37); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Eastern Screech Owl (1); Passerine numbers were pretty typical.

JAMES TURNER/PAWTUCKET RESERVOIR/CENTRAL POND: 90% still frozen: Mute Swan (5); Canada Goose (56); Mallard (68); Ring-necked Duck (2); Lesser Scaup (1f); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (22: including 11 in a very narrow strip of open water between the ice and the dam); Ruddy Duck (9); American Coot (1); Ring-billed Gull (77); Herring Gull (6); NB" very few gulls on ice when we were there);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/24/07 -- downtown Worcester/Rt. 146, Uxbridge

On our way south to bird the Seekonk River we had:

An adult Peregrine Falcon perched on the first "N" of the Bank North sign in downtown Worcester

A raven flying north in Uxbridge.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/23/07 -- Millbury

After class, I set out to do some local birding. My main goal was to see if the Rough-legged Hawk that Mark Lynch and Sheila Carroll found was still hanging around. It was, and I had a pretty nice look at it from the Millbury Park and Ride, but it looked like it was right over the Millbury Bike Path. Speaking of the Millbury Bike Path.... I birded this area on a whim (I saw a Ring-necked Duck close to the path and wanted to try to get a pic of it), but it ended up being the most productive spot of the day. There was a good amount of open water and it was loaded with Mallards and it had several surprises like Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, and Northern Pintail. Most of these, except for the Wood Ducks, were very close allowing great looks. The dabblers were swimming into the current and grabbing clumps of weeds as they went speeding by. At one point 3 Mallards, 1 teal, and a Canada Goose were on one huge piece. After a certain point they'd release the weeds and swim back to the "starting line". Other highlights here included a Fox Sparrow and a Fisher.
Here are the numbers for highlights (Note that the numbers are most likely underestimations as several species seemed to be in large numbers and so I only recorded the highest number seen at once if there was a chance of it being a previous individual): Wood Duck - 3 (1m2f); American Black Duck - 16; Mallard - 728 (not an estimation, sadly, I counted them all); Mallard x Am Black Duck hybrid - 2m1f; Northern Pintail - 4 (1m3f); Green-winged Teal - 2 m/f; Ring-necked Duck - 53 (mostly males); Common Merganser - 74 (many were roosting/standing on the ice); Hooded Merganser - 5; Great Blue Heron - 1; Turkey Vulture - 14 (most seen at one time from one spot. They seem to have come in over night); Red-tailed Hawk - 15 (all pairs except for one); Rough-legged Hawk - 1 (your best bet is to park at the Millbury Park and Ride and check all around, even over the treatment plant); Common Raven - 4 (seen from the park and ride flying in a tight flock over the State Trooper Barracks. A HUGE group of crows also saw them); American Robin - 16; Fox Sparrow - 1; Song Sparrow - 3; White-throated Sparrow - 9. (report from Dan Berard).

2/23/07 -- downtown Worcester

Arriving at the radio station (Portland St) c.8AM, Sheila and I spotted a large accipiter perched on the side of a building. Now, I have seen an adult Cooper's Hawk here every once in awhile and we expected that this would be the bird. But breaking out the bins we were surprised to clearly see an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK sitting there. Obviously this bird is just "passing through", and Goshawks are moving around at this time, so I did not expect this bird to linger. Indeed, when I left the station at noon, I could find no sign of it. But as if to try to outdo that sighting, while waiting for a ride from the station, one of the many gulls that wafted by low was an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Heading where, I haven't a clue. But, It's amazing what one sees when one really looks! (report from Mark Lynch).

2/23/07 -- Blackstone

I had a fox sparrow at my feeders this morning. (report from Lewis Symynkywicz)

2/21/07 -- Oxbow NWR, Bolton/Harvard

This AM there was a Northern Shrike perched up in a tree along Stillwater Road. I also saw a Coyote in the field. (report from Peter Morlock).

2/20/07 -- Uxbridge

Mark Landon's report from Douglas caught my attention. I too have a beautiful rusty fox sparrow this morning, eating black-oil sunflower seed in a small bayberry thicket. Two white-throated sparrows have been dining there the last two weeks, along with many juncos.

The morning began early with a great horned owl calling constantly from the edge of the woods. Later, a Carolina wren took up singing and was seen with a companion inspecting a juniper tree that has been cut way back since last year. The wrens' scolding sounded like "What have they done to our tree? Put it back this instant!" One bluebird is around, although there were four about ten days ago. Of course, only the juncos and one white-throat--with the other usuals--showed up for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

There has been a coot on JWhitin Pond (Linwood) the past few weeks. Sometimes the coot is on the west side of Rte 122---but we've also found it in the Pond proper, seen well from the railroad tracks that parallel Rte 122. Many Canada geese, mallards and three gull species are at the Pond. You may also find a swan or two, a pair of hooded mergansers and a pair of ring-necked ducks. (report from Beth Milke).

2/20/07 -- downtown Worcester

In 15 minutes while waiting for a cab in front of the Printer's Building on Portland Street, I had the following late this AM: Cooper's Hawk (1ad: tore off after Rock Pigeons on Commons); Red-tailed Hawk (pair sitting tight together on a nearby hotel's top ledge. Planning on nesting here?); Peregrine Falcon (1ad: zooming high all around the buildings); American Robin (flock of 14 heading north); House Finch (2); As well as the expected Ring-billed Gulls, Rock Pigeons and European Starlings. (report from Mark Lynch).

2/20/07 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Clinton

Raptors at Bolton Flats between 9 and 10 AM: 1 northern harrier, 2 red-tailed hawks and 1 light-morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. The parking lot just west of the 110/117 intersection is not plowed and is filled with frozen ruts. Without 4-wheel drive, this could be a real problem. Also at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton there were 4 gadwalls and 3 wood ducks mixed in with the mallards. (report from Alan Marble).

2/20/07 -- Douglas

A Fox sparrow has appeared in our yard in Douglas (on 16 just east of the State Forest). Interesting, apart from a handful of White-throated and the usual billion Juncos, we haven't had many sparrows at the feeders this winter. (report from Mark Landon).

2/18/07 -- Athol/Templeton

I took a brief "spin" up to Bear's Den Road, in Athol to check out the "slaughter-house" area yesterday morning, the hilights: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-tailed Hawk 2; Am. Crow ~20; Raven 6; Starling ~1000;

In Templeton, I had the following in the Norcross and Church Hill areas: Pileated Woodpecker 1 drumming; Horned lark 17; Snow Bunting ~62 in two flocks; Brown-headed Cowbird 3;
(report from Tom Pirro).

2/18/07 -- Sterling

During a walk through my neighborhood we saw a flock of 15+ Eastern Bluebirds, 6 American Tree Sparrows, and a flock of 30+ Wild Turkeys. (report from Stan Selkow).

2/18/07 -- City of Worcester

Today, we intended to do a standard point-count of the Seekonk River (Providence/East Providence). But just after dawn, while waiting for a traffic light in downtown Worcester, we spotted a falcon zooming right at, and then low over, us. It was a great view of a MERLIN. It was shortly after that, that we decided to spend the day seeing how many raptors we could see in the city of Worcester (and the immediate surrounding areas) in a winter day. The fact that a Rough-legged had been spotted the day before helped us change our minds. This has been a project both of us have wanted to do for awhile, so we went for it. We hit the areas of Millbury just south of the Worcester line in Millbury; Worcester Airport, which is partly in Leicester, and the Worcester House of Correction area, as well as many spots in between. While we were at this, we also kept track of other birds (except starlings, rock pigeons and house sparrows). Raptor activity was concentrated in the morning and then again c.2PM, so there were long stretches with us scanning skies to no good effect. C. 99% of open water is frozen, and many areas of moving water were also frozen. We had several inches of snow in the last storm and much of this was still around as well as layers of ice in some spots. Also: keep in mind this a congested very urban area. Still, it was an entertaing day's birding, low on gas, and we got to eat lunch at home. We started c.7:30AM and ended c.2:30PM, with an hour for lunch.

The list: Turkey Vulture (5); Canada Goose (177: we found, much to our surprise, large flocks of geese on the ground in Hope Cemetery. What they were doing was grazing on the small areas of grass turned over because someone was just buried. Other than these small spots, it was 5 inches of ice encrusted snow on the ground. It was quite weird to watch geese so dependant on the mortality of Worcester residents.); Mute Swan (6); American Black Duck (23: mostly in small stretches of open water of the Blackstone); Mallard (502: in several araes including small streams by roads where they are obviously fed); Ring-necked Duck (25: Blackstone); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (7); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Cooper's Hawk (1 in Worcester section of Blackstone: we missed the one that shows up at our feeders about once or twice a week); RED-TAILED HAWK (24: everywhere. I cannot believe these all nest in the area, and some of these have to be wintering/passage birds) ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (in AM, but not in PM, from Rt.20/Mass Pike Park N' Ride); Merlin (1); Peregrine Falcon (1ad: this was perched on the "K" of "Flagship Bank". This is where this species bred 2 years ago, in a planter on a balcony. Last year they nested in the box Fish and Wildlife put up on the Fallon Offices.); NO TURKEYS Ring-billed Gull (515); Herring Gull (58); Great Black-backed Gull (26); Mourning Dove (18); Eastern Screech Owl (1); Downy Woodpecker (9); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N. Flicker (1); Blue Jay (63); American Crow (278: we stopped too early to count the big roost); COMMON RAVEN (2); Horned Lark (3: Worcester Airport); Black-capped Chickadee (58); Tufted Titmouse (17); White-breasted Nuthatch (8); Carolina Wren (7); Winter Wren (1 at dawn foraging in an embankment of the Blackstone); American Robin (173); N Mockingbird (2); American Tree Sparrow (6); Song Sparrow (6); White-throated Sparrow (20); Dark-eyed Junco (59: many singing); Snow Bunting (2: foraging along Mulberry Street (behind the airport) on a bare stretch left by the plows.Our car kept causing them to fly ahead and at one point, 1 bird perched in a tree, something I don't see often); N Cardinal (22); Red-winged Blackbird (106: flocks along th Blackstone at dawn); Common Grackle (111: flocks along Blackstone and singles several other places in the city); House Finch (3); PLUS: Eastern Coyote (1 at landfill); Meadow Vole (1 caught by Red-tail and now part of same). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/18/07 -- Winimusset WMA, New Braintree

An afternoon walk on the frozen marsh turned up Hooded Merganser (3 overhead flying toward the Ware River), Hairy Woodpecker (3 drumming and in courtship behavior), Northern Flicker (1), American Crow (3), White-Breasted Nuthatch (2), Song Sparrow (3), Swamp Sparrow (1) and Dark-eyed Junco (1). (submitted by Chris Buelow)

2/17/07 -- Millbury/Worcester line

Driving home from Fairhaven, north on Rt. 146, we were surprised to find a ROUGH-LEGEGD HAWK soaring low right above us right at the Mass Turnpike exit on the Millbury/Worcester line. We immediately called the Berards, Fran McMemeny and Bart Kamp. Below is what was reported to me by Dan Berard Jr.

Thanks for the call about the Rough-legged Hawk. We got to the park and ride about 10 minutes after your call and there was nothing around except for some gulls. We decided to try a different vantage point and as we were at the red light we had it fly by behind some trees. We then noticed that Fran McMenomy was in the parking lot looking for it so we drove over to show him where it was but we couldn't refind it. Barton Kamp also showed up and things started to put up so there was a pretty good winter raptor show. 4 Turkey Vultures, 8 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 raven and we all ended up getting great looks at the Rough-legged Hawk as it came in over the sewage treatment plant. We all had good looks at it for several minutes.

NB: Folks should be on the lookout for Rough-leggeds in the next week or so, as there was a definite incursion in the state last week and they appeared in numbers in places like Cumerland Farms (Middleboro); for the first time this season. We even had one today in Fairhaven, where I had enevr seen one before. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/17/07 -- Gardner/Templeton

A few hilight from a little birding in the area this afternoon:

Gardner: Northern Shrike (1 adult near the campus pond at Mount Wachusett Community College.)

Templeton: Ruffed Grouse 1; Wild Turkey's 88 (Church Hill); Horned Lark 9; Snow Bunting 17 (15 Norcross Hill Rd. and 2 near Church Hill); Brown-headed Cowbird 3;
(report from Tom Pirro).

2/17/07 -- Blackstone River, Millbury

Highlights from a few stops along the Blackstone River in Millbury this morning: 2 great blue herons, guesstimate of about 300 mallards, >40 American black ducks , 4 northern pintails, 47 ring-necked ducks ( small groups in 5 different locations), 13 hooded mergansers, 17 common mergansers, belted kingfisher, 3 Carolina wrens, 1 WINTER WREN (at the northern end of St Bridget's Cemetery near the railroad tracks), and a golden-crowned kinglet. (report from Alan Marble).

2/14/07 -- Millbury

Today I took classes being cancelled as a sign to put extra bird seed on the ground and hope for a Fox Sparrow (or better). The most exciting bird was a female Purple Finch, it's a slow finch year when a Purple Finch is a pretty good bird. Like many other birders I've been really checking for these guys..Also observed were Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1; Eastern Bluebird - 3; American Robin - 11; American Tree Sparrow - 4; Also of note: I have been seeing/hearing ravens almost daily in Millbury and Sutton, much to the dismay of the neighborhood crows. If you're in the area keep an eye/ear out for them. (report from Dan Berard).

2/14/07 -- backyard off Salisbury Street, (near Park Ave), Worcester

Our "pet" Cooper's Hawk has just nailed a Rock Pigeon in our tiny backyard, has mantled the prey and is chowing down. Happy Valentine's Day! (report from Mark Lynch).

2/13/07 -- Francis Street, Leominster

My co-workers at our manufacturing plants said they saw some Blue birds fly around the bushes next to their office windows. I was able to get a very good look and there were (2) adult males & (2) adult females. Spectacular bright blue males with the reddish under throat and sides. Very healthy birds. (report from Van Laskarides).

2/12/07 -- rte. 395 south, Oxford

There was an American Robin in the median strip, and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks nearby, perched within inches of each other. I remember a similar sight on Valentine's Day a couple of years ago. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

2/12/07 -- Worcester

Among the usual feeder birds, I have had a truly lovely Brown Thrasher visiting my backyard feeders this week. Also 2 Red Bellied Woodpeckers (male AND female!), and Carolina wrens. (report from Betsy Bronstein).

2/12/07 -- Broad Meadow Brook MAS, Worcester

Highlights: 1 Great Blue Heron, 1 Turkey Vulture, and 1 Belted Kingfisher. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

2/12/07 -- Worcester State College, Worcester

This morning, there was a Turkey Vulture flying low over Worcester State College. I havn't seen, or heard many reports of them in central Ma this year. Millbury usually has a healthy supply of them year round but I havn't come across any there this winter. Also seen at Worcester State this morning was the large resident Red-tailed Hawk, a flock of 23 American Robins, and a small flock of 7 Cedar Waxwings.
Traffic wasn't too bad this morning and I had extra time so I stopped at the Dunkin' Donuts in Kelley Square to check the gulls that hang out in the parking lot and adjacent flea market roof top. There were 67 Ring-billeds, 11 Herrings, and 3 Great Black-backeds. (report from Dan Berard).

2/11/07 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton

Highlights: 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Turkey Vulture, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, and 1 Swamp Sparrow. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

2/11/07 -- Brookfields

We made two quick stops in the Brookfields late in the afternoon as we were returning from the Berkshires:

QUABOG RIVER AT OUTFLOW OF LAKE WICKABOG: Great Blue Heron (1); American Black Duck (16); Hooded Merganser (2f); Common Merganser (1);

EAST BROOKFIELD: farm field on Rt.9: Canada Goose (392)
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/11/07 -- Gardner/Fitchburg

Hilights from a brief stop near the Gardner WWTP, along the Otter River late yesterday: Mallard 24; Black Duck 8; Green-winged teal 1 female (has been present for a few weeks), never a common winter bird in this area.
Also, there were an estimated 3,500 American Crows in west Fitchburg along the Nashua River just after 5 PM last evening. (report from Tom Pirro).

2/11/07 -- Blackstone River, Millbury

Along the Blackstone River, accessed from the SE side of Central Cemetery, there were: 2 great blue herons, 24 mallards. 9 A. black ducks, 1 ring-necked duck, 3 hooded mergansers, 5 common mergansers and 1 female RUDDY DUCK repeatedly diving in a pool amongst the rapids. (report from Alan Marble).

2/11/07 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton

In a small patch of open water at Wachusett there were 11 Common Merganser, 2 Common Goldeneye, 1 Ring neck duck and 1 Otter. At the Pond that never freezes by Clinton High I had 300 + Canada Geese (this may be why it never freezes) 4 Gadwall, 4 Hooded Merganser and1 Black Duck. (report from John Shea).

2/10/07 -- Millbury Bike Path

Highlights along the Blackstone today: great blue heron, >75 mallards, 22 American black ducks, 33 ring-necked ducks, 17 hooded mergansers, 5 common mergansers, red-tailed hawk, 2 great black-backed gulls, belted kingfisher and a northern flicker. (report from Alan Marble).

2/10/07 -- downtown Worcester

Returing home from Westport this afternoon, we got great views of an adult PEREGRINE FALCON perched on the side of the Flagship Bank Building, overlooking the library. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/10/07 -- West Millbury

The female yellow-bellied sapsucker continues to visit the suet regularly. The male is seen less frequently but has been present on and off all week. Red-bellied, downy and hairy round out the daily descent of woodpeckers.The cold weather brought some unusual birds to the feeders: 3 crows. (report from Alan Marble).

2/8/07 -- Broad Meadow Brook MAS, Worcester

There were 25 Mallards, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, and 6 Savannah Sparrows, as well as 2 Muskrats feeding on the shore here. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

2/7/07 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester

The only open water here is where it runs the swiftest. There were 2 Mute Swans on the ice, 1 Canadian Goose on the ice, 1 pair American Black Duck, 6 Mallards and 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets. There were also 2 Muskrats feeding on the shore. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

2/4/07 -- Blackstone National Corridor

We started our morning's casual birding of the BLACKSTONE NATIONAL CORRIDOR, in northern CUMBERLAND, RI. Most of the still water everywhere we went was unsurprisingly frozen. But along some streams and sections of the river, there were a number of common ducks. Common winter passerines were in good number, particularly CAROLINA WRENS in Cumberland RI, which seemed to be everywhere we stopped.

CUMBERLAND RI: Canada Goose (1: on a tiny sliver of open water on Diamond Hill Reservoir); American Black Duck (3); Mallard (242); BALD EAGLE (1imm (looked like 1st yr); on ice at Diamond Hill Reservoir); Cooper's hawk (1ad); Red-tailed Hawk (4); Ring-billed Gull (68); Herring Gull (3); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (4); Blue Jay (21); American Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (86); Tufted Titmouse (17); White-breasted Nuthatch (5); CAROLINA WREN (18); Eastern Bluebird (26); American Robin (16); N Mockingbird (7); Cedar Waxwing (55); American Tree Sparrow (16); Song Sparrow (11); White-throated Sparrow (37); Dark-eyed Junco (183); Northern cardinal (51); House Finch (11); American Goldfinch (26); PLUS: Eastern Coyote. NOTA BENE: Supposedly the Cumberland Reservoirs are guarded well against tresspassers with patrols and still fines threatened, but we found quite a number of ice fishermen out on the water.

Then, we hit a few spots in WOONSOCKET, Rhode Island: Canada Goose (24); Mallard (93); Common Merganser (2); Turkey Vulture (1); Ring-billed Gull (175); Herring Gull (182); Great Black-backed Gull (15); LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (1 adW);

BLACKSTONE, MA (town: 1 stop); Mute Swan (4);

MILLVILLE, MA (1 stop); Common Merganser (4);

UXBRIDGE, MA (two stops); : Canada Goose (191); Mute Swan (2); American Black Duck (42); Mallard (11); Ring-necked Duck (1); Hooded Merganser (7); Common Merganser (4); Ring-billed Gull (30+); Herring Gull 91); Great Black-backed Gull (3); Blue Jay (6); American Robin (27); Cedar Waxwing (2); American Tree Sparrow (6); Dark-eyed Junco (12);

NORTHBRIDGE (3 stops); Canada Goose (42); Mute Swan (4); American Black Duck (8); Mallard (4); Northern Pintail (2f); Ring-necked Duck (8); Hooded Merganser (3); N Cardinal (5); House Finch (34);

SUTTON, Town Farm Road. Quite windy, with a bit of drifting snow across the road. No sign of Snow Buntings or larks, but we did have: Red-tailed Hawk (1); Tree Sparrow (15); SAVANNAH SPARROW (4: these birds were together and found initially IN the road. They then huddled in some bushes at the base of a tree right on the road offering great views. Savvies are uncommon and local in winter in Worcester County); Song Sparrow (3); White-throated Sparrow (6); Dark-eyed Junco (13);

MILLBURY, Central/Brigitte Cemetery on the Blackstone: Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (2); Mallard (65); American Black Duck (31); Green-winged Teal (pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Golden-crowned Kinglet (4);

GRAFTON, Wyman-Gordon: Turkey Vulture (2); MILLBURY, Blackstone River behind Goretti's: Mallard (219); American Black Duck (11); Ring-necked Duck (13); Hooded Merganser (5);

SHREWSBURY, Flint Pond on Rt.20: Mute Swan (6); Mallard (55); American Black Duck (9); Hooded Merganser (2);

LAKE QUINSIGAMOND, Shrewsbury-Worcester. VERY little water open: Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (22); Mallard (4); Ring-billed Gull (847); Herring Gull (84); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Red-tailed Hawk (2);

WORCESTER, Lincoln Plaza: Ring-billed Gull (250+); Herring Gull (11);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/4/07 -- West Millbury

The female yellow-bellied sapsucker, first seen on Jan 27, continues to be a daily visitor to the suet. The male that was seen on the 29th has not been seen since. (report from Alan Marble).

2/3/07 -- Royalston/Petersham

We took a quick tour of roads in western Royalston this morning, looking for Evening Grosbeaks. We found none this go-round, even driving all the way down Falls Road. Common "feeder" passerines were in good numbers, and we were surprised to find a few ducks in a small section of open water at the Tully Lake ACE property. Mallard (1m); American Black Duck (9); Hooded Merganser (2); Mourning Dove (11); Downy Woodpecker (3); Pileated Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (42); American Crow (6); Black-capped Chickadee (84); Tufted Titmouse (3); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); American Robin (18); European Starling (10); American Tree Sparrow (6); White-throated Sparow (15); Dark-eyed Junco (126); N Cardinal (12); American Goldfinch (23: a good number "gritting" on the road);

On the way home, we stopped off at WEST STREET, PETERSHAM. The substantial feeding area at the very end of the road, among several houses had: Blue Jay (30+); Red-winged Blackbird (13); Rusty Blackbird (2); Brown-headed Cowbird (6); American Goldfinch (10+); NB: with sizeable flocks of Red-wings and Rustys being reported from locations like Northfield, birders should be on the lookout for flocks of icterids in wooded marshes and at feeders.

We started the day with a good number of the common passerines at our feeder in Worcester, but a new addition was a FOX SPARROW.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/2/07 -- Sutton

A few quick stops in Sutton after class this morning (~9:15 - 9:50) had the following highlights: Canada Goose - 124; Ring-billed Gull - 24; Herring Gull - 1; Mallard ~ 200; Northern Harrier - 1 (Town Farm Rd); Common Raven - 3 (Town Farm Rd); Red-tailed Hawk - 1; Eastern Bluebird - 4 (Town Farm Rd); Brown-headed Cowbird - 17; Common Grackle - 12 (one single bird with the cowbirds and a flock of 11 at a feeder); American Robin ~ 80 (Town Farm Rd); Red-headed Woodpecker - 1 (private property); Northern Flicker - 1; Horned Lark - 6 (Town Farm Rd) put up by harrier; Snow Bunting - atleast 9 (Whittier Farm Milk Store Field). (report from Dan Berard).

For previous sightings, see January 2007 Archives or Archive Index