February 2009 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:

Bird Sightings:

2/28/09 -- Oxford
A Red-shouldered Hawk seemed to be trying to build a nest in a tree in my backyard on the Oxford-Charlton border this afternoon. It carried sticks in its beak to a crook in the tree, but they all fell to the ground when it tried to place them. The bird eventually gave up and flew away. (report from Robert Brady).

2/28/09 -- New Salem/South Quabbin
  • Following up on Bob Stymeist's report, we headed to NEW SALEM and found some BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in the apple trees on North Main Street. We spent some time poking around the roads of this town. Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Mourning Dove (42); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (4); Blue Jay (27); American Crow (19); Black-capped Chickadee (31); Tufted Titmouse (7); American Robin (2); Cedar Waxwing (2); Bohemian Waxwing (10-12: the apple tree was incredibly thick and birds were coming and going); Dark-eyed Junco (23); Red-winged Blackbird (53: several locations); Pine Siskin (70+>2 flocks); Evening Grosbeak (15+: lots of displaying, calling et); NB: NO Carolina Wrens.
  • We then went to SOUTH QUABBIN/QUABBIN PARK. Looking far north (scope needed); from the Administration Building along the western shore, past the last "point" was a HUGE carcass. Moose? Needless to say there was a lot of activity here. Bald Eagle (6ad+3imm); Golden Eagle (1ad); Common Raven (8: all on carcass); Snow Bunting (20 in tower lot); Pine Siskin (2); Highlight was watching for some time 4 Eastern Coyotes come out of the woods and feast on the carcass.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    2/26/09 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester
    This morning I saw the following at Leesville: Northern Flicker; Common Mergansers 12; Hooded Mergansers 19; Great Blue Heron; American Black Ducks 5; Northern Pintail M&F; Carolina Wren; Mallard 10; Canada Goose 9. (report from Peter Morlock)

    2/26/09 -- Marlborough
    Outside on some dead/aging oaks in our backyard at 7:20am, I observed a pileated woodpecker for about 10 minutes. (report from Leah Wilcox).

    2/25/09 -- Barton's Cove, Gill
    We (and c.15 others) had the SLATY-BACKED GULL this afternoon begining just before 4PM. There were two groups looking at the bird: one group from the "Gill side" along RIVERVIEW RD, setting up just south of the chain link fence and looking out at the gulls on the ice. For the first 30 minutes glare was somewhat a problem, though if you moved around a bit, you eventually got good views. The second group were on the Montague side, viewing from the park off 1st STREET (off AVENUE A), essentially just across the water from the first group. Eventually, every one on our side got good looks at the gull. Some suggestions:
    1. Be sure to really study JAMES SMITH'S good photos of this gull and read his blog ( http://gremlinthecat.blogspot.com/) BEFORE you go and create a search image in your head. This is a plumage not described well in most North American standard field guides. Pay attention to the head pattern; bill color; upperparts pattern (back; wing-coverts); and gis of the bird. There are quite a number of 3rdW Great Black Backs that were giving some birders a momentary pause. Mark Fairbrother, Mark Taylor and I (yet another Mark) noted the sort of dumpy shape to bird, with almost a football shaped body.
    2. ONCE YOU FIND THE BIRD, STAY ON THE BIRD! Several times, we would look away, and the bird would move, lay down, turn and be tough to refind.The gulls can get quite packed in in parts of the flock, so work hard to get everyone on the bird ASAP. We found using parts of the bridge structure that was in the background helpful in getting folks at least in the ballpark.
    3. Please check to make sure everyone present has the bird or any of the other nice gulls that were there (we also had 2 adult LESSER BLACK-BACKS and a 1stW ICELAND). I found I had to ask out loud to make sure everyone had had a view.
    4. Try not block the road. It's narrow and so far the neighbors have been quite friendly, so let's keep it that way.
    Great bird for Barton Cove and I hope it stays a few more days so more birders can enjoy it. Thanks, James!!
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    2/25/09 -- Oakham
    The white winged crossbills are back at our feeder. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

    2/22/09 -- Gardner to Gill/Turner's Falls
    Hilight from various stops in North Worcester COunty toward the Conn River for the Slaty-backed Gull. I had an afternoon commitment but firgured I give a mid-morning shot for the gull. Though missing the gull it was a nice outing:
  • Gardner WWTP: Mallard 15; Black Duck 6; Belted Kingfisher 1 male; Red-winged Blackbird 1 male singing
  • The Templeton Develpement Center (formerly the Fernald School): Wild Turkey 128 , several "Toms" jacked up on hormons and displaying nicely. Raven 1; SNow Bunting 35
  • Royalston Center: Pileated Woodpecker 2; American Tree Sparrow ~15; Pine Siskin 40+; Common Redpoll 2; Evening Grosbeak 12
  • Gill Barton's Cover Area: Bald Eagle 2 1A, 1 Imm; Mute Swan 3; Canada Goose 1; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Merganser 4; Hooded Merganser 2; Herring Gull ~150; Ring-bilded Gull ~150; Great Black-backed Gull ~30; Pine Siskin 50 +/-; Common Redpoll 100+ seen from the Turner's Falls side looking up river through the scope toward the big island , could see the forhead markings but that was about it. Not a huge surprise, because a few weeks ago Jeff Johnstone and I had a flock of about 500 up in Keene, NH.
  • I did get over to Greenfield, on the advice from Sheila Carol and Mark Lynch, nice directions Sheila!, to view some gulls in a farm field. They were closer, when I arrived, than it sounded like for mark and Sheila, but perhaps a 100 fewer birds and not nearly the number to Great Black-backs as they reported. I worked thorugh and did NOT see anything resembling a Slatey-backed. A few moments later a domestic dog sprinted over and chased the birds off. This wasn't as frustrating as it could of been, because I felt confident THE bird was NOT there, and "woofy" looked like "s / he" was having fun!
  • The Red-winged Blackbirds are right about ontime for up this way and fairly wide spread with small numbers today in Gardner, Templeton, Royalston and Athol...all but the Gardner bird, on a marsh and singing, associated with feeding stations.
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    2/22/09 -- Chaffin pond, Holden
    At the south end of chaffin pond from 7-9am. there were: 1 pileated woodpecker, 2 red bellied woodpeckers, 1 carolina wren, 1 brown creeper, 12 pine siskin, 8 goldfinch, 6 red winged blackbird, and 1 coopers hawk. (report from Scott Corazzini).

    2/22/09 -- Worcester
    This morning there was a Fox Sparrow under my backyard bushes. (report from Peter Morlock).

    2/19/09 -- Holden
    This month has been a very interesting one in the suburbs, The Pine Siskins are still here but their number seems to be dropping (best count was 12 this past Sunday). The resident Barred Owl did make an appearence last week for four hours. He has not been around since. There is a Northern Goshawk in the area and has been here since last fall. Two sightings of this bird within the past twenty-four hours. The crow roosts seemed to be forming around here and are following the patterns observed over the past several years. The counts of crows flying either over or nearby have been (2/15/09 - 175, 2/16/09 - 636, 2/18/09 - 546, 2/19/09 - 528). The pattern of the roost flyovers is somewhat similar to the Broadwing Hawk migration. Other raptors seen recently in sleeply Holden have been two Red-tailed Hawks, two Cooper's Hawkes, and (a surprise), an American Kestrel. I'm interested as how this winter will play out for humans and birds alike. (report from Steve & Kathy Olson).

    2/19/09 -- Northboro
    This morning at my feeders in Northboro I had the first Redwing blackbird (m) of the season. (report from Jim Hogan).

    2/18/09 -- Marlborough
    First thing this morning when I went out to get my newpaper I heard the unmistakable sound of a Red-winged Blackbird. I had 4 Redwings and 1 Grackle at my feeders today. (report from Laura Lane).

    2/18/09 -- Kelly Square, Worcester
    3 Turkey Vultures were circling Kelly Sq. at noon today. Birding Kelly Square: a new extreme sport. (report from John Shea).

    2/17/09 -- downtown Worcester
    The Peregrine Falcons spent the entire day around downtown Worcester. At 11:00 am one of them was putting on an aerial show of sorts behind City Hall. The other falcon was in the alcove of the Unum building from approx. 11:40am to 3:30pm. After that both flew from the Unum building and onto the BankNorth building. Rough photos and more detailed information can be found at my blog. (report from Kimberly Allen).

    2/16/09 -- Millbury
    Today at around 3 p.m., there were 28 Turkey Vultures circling around in a tight group near the intersection of Howe Ave and Millbury Ave. (report from Alan Marble).

    2/15/09 -- East Providence RI
    Returning from birding Fairhaven, we stopped by Turner (East Providence) Reservoir and Central Pond in East Providence, RI to look for the TUFTED DUCK (directions below). Central Pond, north of the causeway, has opened up considerably; Turner Reservoir is still mostly frozen. This is where the Tufted Duck is, visible from the 10 Mile Greenway Bike Path. Totals were as follows: Pied-billed Grebe (1); Mute Swan (16); Canada Goose (174); Mallard (47); N Pintail (2); Greater Scaup (4); TUFTED DUCK (1m: with a flock of Ring-necked Ducks and a few scaup. Amazingly, we watched a territorial swan adopt the aggression posture and start to chase this flock of ducks, herding them to the southern icy edge of this section of the pond. Sheila took some decent shots of this behavior. Great views)
      DIRECTIONS: Take FERRIS off Rt.1A. Cross railroad tracks and at right bend of road, look for a green sign on left that reads: KIMBERLY ANN ROCK MEMORIAL ATHLETIC COMPLEX/10 MILE RIVER GREENWAY. Turn in here. When you see a A-field straight ahead, follow road to the right. Drive to furthest end of parking lot. Hide all valuables. Hike on bike path (next to lot) north (left) checking Central Pond all along. Today we hiked in from Narragansett Road off Rt 1A (where Hasbro is) and hiked south on the bike path till we spotted the bird. But today it would have been much easier to enter from the Athletic Complex and hike north. Hike north till you see the Ten Mile River disappear behind a stand of cattails. The bird should be somewhere along this stretch.
    Ring-necked Duck (26); Canvasback (4m); Common Merganser (19); Ruddy Duck (9); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Fish Crow (14: around Rt1A) (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    2/15/09 -- Northbridge
    During a short walk down Plummer's Trail in Northbridge, MA the highlight was one Hermit Thrush. (report from Jenifer Glagowski).

    2/15/09 -- downtown Worcester
    Mid-afternoon, we were able to see one PEREGRINE FALCON perform what looked like an aerial flight display over Worcester Common twice: lots of wing flapping and zooming in a wide circle. We later saw an adult perched on the edge of the state nest box on Chestnut Street. This is the first time I have seen them at this location in well over a year. Also: over downtown: (2) Turkey Vultures. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    2/14/09 -- Oxbow NWR, Harvard
    Briefly checking out Oxbow en route back from Plum, we had the following: Red-tailed Hawk (3); Common Raven (1 relentlessly attacking one of the soaring Redtails); Eastern Bluebird (9: we had another 6 bluebirds in the fields across from Tahanto HS on Rt.70) N Mockingbird (1); Tree Sparrow (2); Common Redpoll (15); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    2/14/09 -- Flint Pond, Shrewsbury
    I found some open water on Flint pond with some good birds in it: M. Swan 6, Black Duck 7, Mallards 80, Ring-neck Duck 5, C. Merganser 16, Hooded Merganser 15, Common Goldeneye 6, 1 Bald Eagle from Stringer Dam and 100 + - Common Redpolls at the Flint Pond boat rump. (report from John Shea).

    2/12/09 -- Sawmill Pond, Fitchburg
    Today there was a 1st year male Red-winged Blackbird near Sawmill Pond in Fitchburg. Also, on Monday 2/9, I traveled to the Lakes Region of NH for the Hawk Owl and Hoary Redpolls in Center Harbor and Center Sandwich, respectivly. A few photos are on my blog. (report from Tom Pirro).

    2/12/09 -- King Road and Uxbridge Road, Sutton
    This morning, there were 5 Red-winged Blackbirds feeding on the ground with a flock of Starlings at the corner of King Road and Uxbridge Road in Sutton. (report from Alan Marble).

    2/10/09 -- downtown Worcester
    The two Peregrine Falcons were on top of the Flagship Building in Worcester at 1:30 PM today. The male was on top of the "F" and the female on the "G" (purely a guess based on their size). I watched them for 15 minutes and they didn't move. The female appeared to be grooming herself. Here are some pictures. (report from Kimberly Allen).

    2/8/09 -- Seekonk River, Providence RI
  • On the way back to MA from viewing the Tufted Duck and Tufted Duck hybrid in Warwick RI, we did a count of birds along the SEEKONK RIVER, from Bold Point to Pawtucket Landing. This is the southern end of the BLACKSTONE NATIONAL CORRIDOR. The wind began to kick up while we were there, but the temps were still in the mid-50s (high: 56);, so it felt like spring might in fact not be too far away. The tide was very low. Great Cormorant (1 br pl); Mute Swan (22); Canada Goose (23); Mallard (130); American Black Duck (128); Green-winged Teal (5); American Wigeon (1); Ring-necked Duck (4); Greater Scaup (112); Bufflehead (23); Common Goldeneye (31); Barrow?s Goldeneye (1f); Hooded Merganser (43); Red-breasted Merganser (12); Common Merganser (9); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (1970); Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 adW); Herring Gull (324); Greater Black-backed Gull (74); Fish Crow (35+: many feeding on exposed rocks);
  • At nearby coastal CRANSTON: Mute Swan (8); Canada Goose (218); Mallard (17); A Black Duck (12); American Wigeon (112); American Coot (52);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    2/7/09 -- Quabog River/South Quabbin/Northampton
    Sheila Carroll, Jan Ewick and I did some Central MA birding this morning. Highlights:
  • QUABOG RIVER, BROOKFIELD: 2 stops along this still mostly frozen river: American Black Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (3); Common Merganser (4); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1); N Flicker (1); Golden-crowned Kinglet (1); Plus: great views of an Eastern Coyote in a field right on Rt.9
  • SOUTH QUABBIN/QUABBIN PARK: Quabbin is now completely ice covered. Bald Eagle (3ad+7imm: great views of the immatures at the state trout hatchery); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Wild Turkey (4); Common Raven (1); PLUS: Eastern Coyote running across the ice covered reservoir. LOTS of tracks of all sorts of mammals including many deer and several sets of Fisher.
  • NORTHAMPTON (vicinity of airport);/HADLEY (Honeypot); Mallard (60+); Common Merganser (13); Bald Eagle (2ad); Redtailed Hawk (3); Iceland Gull (1 2ndW: great views of this bird with solid white primaries and a strongly bi-colored bill); N Flicker (2); Horned Lark (26); Fish Crow (1); PLUS: Beaver out on shore of Connecticut River in someone's yard nibbling on shrubs.
  • HARDWICK: 1 feeder Pine Siskins (30); Common Redpoll (1); American Goldfinch (15+); plus the usual suspects.
  • When we got home, "our" adult Cooper's Hawk was perched in the front yard awaiting some unsuspecting Rock Pigeon.
    (report from Mark Lynch).

    2/7/09 -- Main St, Worcester
    A drive into Worcester Saturday produced a peregrine around 4:45pm on the weather vane arrow atop a church steeple. The church is on Main Street across from the Crowne Plaza parking lot and has a tall white steeple. (report from Beth Milke and Nancy Demers).

    2/4/09 -- Elm Park, Worcester
    Two Saw-whet Owls were calling and flying in Elm Park on the Russell St. side of the pond early this morning at 1:30 am. (report from Alexander Dunn).

    2/3/09 -- Douglas
    I had a common redpoll at my feeder today. (report from Mary Sughrue-Yacino).

    2/2/09 -- West Hill Dam, Uxbridge
    A lone turkey vulture flew hesitantly over West Hill Dam in Uxbridge at 2pm today. It was headed roughly northwest and seemed to be carrying a small ice scraper. (report from Beth Milke)

    2/1/09 -- Raven Rd, Berlin
    This last week I have had eastern bluebirds staging in my yard just before dark. I have seen as many as 23 individuals together just off my porch in the Staghoen Sumac, then they break for bird boxes I have up. Seen as many as 6-7 go into one box for the night. I clean the boxes puting in fresh dried grass and small amount of shavings a couple times a winter and have not found any smothered birds yet. I n the last 8 years we have produced about 56 young birds from 4 boxes, probably more. (report from Dave Burke).

    2/1/09 -- Clinton
    The Canvasback (f) was still at the "Pond that never freezes" in Clinton along with: Canada Goose (7); Common Merganser (1); Ring-necked Duck (15); and Greater Scaup (4). (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    For previous sightings, see January 2009 Archives or Archive Index