February 2010 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:

• ONGOING -- Asian Longhorned Beetle Information
• 2/23/10 -- Revised version of Worcester County Birdlist now available (click on "Worcester County Checklists")
• 2/24/10 -- Asian Longhorned Beetle program
• 2/25/10 -- photographer BRUCE deGRAAF author of AVIAN AWAKENINGS on WICN

Bird Sightings:

2/28/10 -- Worcester Airport

We headed to the Worcester Airport around lunchtime hoping to see snow buntings, but no luck. We did, however, see 1 Hairy Woodpecker and 1 Eastern Bluebird. We also heard Red-winged Blackbirds while driving to the Leicester side of the airport. (report from Kate Doiron and Carly Edwards)

2/27/10 -- Athol

We went to the Athol sewage treatment facility (a local birding hotspot) looking for some early migrants(redwing BB etc). No luck for redwings or grackles. But birds were fairly active considering how slow the winter has been. We recorded several golden crowned kinglets, a red-bellied, downy and hairy woodpecker, and carolina wren. Also recorded were a tree sparrow, 6 whitethroated sparrows, and an otter. No waterfowl. (report from Kate and Greg Watkevich)

2/21/10 -- Worcester Airport

We went to WORCESTER AIRPORT this morning AND afternoon to see if we could find the Snow Buntings. When we first arrived (c.7AM) at the airport parking lot (south of the terminal; next to runway) we saw and heard nothing. Eventually we heard and saw a single Snow Bunting circle calling continuously over the lot and the runways and then disappear out of sight. That was it. We then headed over to Mulberry Street (Leicester end of runway) and had nothing. Heading back to the terminal lot, we soon had a flock of (5) HORNED LARKS and (1) LAPLAND LONGSPUR land in the lot. GREAT VIEWS of the longspur. Sheila was able to get some decent shots and the birds soon took off. Then a flock of (23) Snow Buntings called and landed in the lot, fed and scurried around a bit; then took off back over to the runways and out of sight. We left, off to bird some other areas.

Later that afternoon, c.3:30, we headed back to the airport. We bumped into Paul Meleski, who had seen some Snow Buntings. He left and soon we heard some buntings calling, Sheila got out of the car to see if they were flying over head and in fact they were in the grasses right in front of us just past the chain link fence, and we hadn't even seen them: too busy scanning the runways! These put down in the lot briefly, then took off. We then heard and saw a flock of 30+ LARKS with a Longspur fly in front of us, down the runway and out of sight. Followed by a huge flock of SNOW BUNTINGS, 100+, which landed in the lot and Sheila got some shots. They took off out over the runways and a small flock of larks (8) plus a single bunting landed in the lot. They took off.

All the while this was going on, airport security was patrolling the runways in their car and several small planes landed as well as a Direct Air flight. So there was a lot of commotion on the runway to flush birds.

My advice to those of you looking for these birds is:

1. Be patient. We were there some time before we saw anything.
2. Scan the runways, but be sure to scan the grasses right in front of you.
3. Be sure to continually check all the lots for flocks that have landed.
4. Keep the windows rolled down a little. We typically first noted these brids were near by their calls.

Also this afternoon there were (2) Red-tailed Hawks; our first County KILLDEER of the year and a roost of c. 800++ crows off Mulberry Street.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/21/10 -- Worcester; Auburn; Blackstone

After the airport, we decided to hit a few small local ponds.

SMITH'S POND, LEICESTER: Mostly frozen, but still: Mute Swan (2); Mallard (14);

COES POND (not the reservoir); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (5);

CURTIS POND: Mute Swan (2); Mallard (5); Hooded Merganser (8); Common Merganser (2);

NOTRE DAME CEM.: Mallard (35); A Black Duck (16); N Pintail (pair); Hooded Merganser (3);

LEESVILLE POND: Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (30); Mallard (8); Hooded Merganser (8); Common Merganser (23);

DAM ALONG MIDDLE RIVER, AUBURN: Canada Goose (8); Mallard (41); Hooded Merganser (10); Common Merganser (10); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Great Black backed Gull (1ad);

MENDON: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (58); Red-tailed Hawk (1);

TOWN OF BLACKSTONE: Canada Goose (28); Red-tailed Hawk (1); FISH CROW (1: among 70+ American Crows at a dairy farm); Red-winged Blackbird (2m);

DOWNTOWN WORCESTER: Peregrine Falcon (1ad sitting at entrance of Chestnut Street nesting box);

Back home: (1); Red-winged Blackbird at feeder.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/20/10 -- St. Philips Cemetery, Grafton

Beth Milke reported a Great Horned Owl on the nest to me last week, and I went to see it on 2/15, 2/19, and today (2/20). The owl (see photo) is in the marsh behind St. Philips Cemetery in Grafton. It is in a nest that has been used in the past by Great Blue Herons and Red-tailed Hawks. (report from John Liller).

2/19/10 -- Grafton

The gray phase Screech Owl continues at my Grafton center home ( photo taken with long lens from behind tree in my yard). Have not yet seen/heard a mate, but hope to have some babies this year. (report from Scott Jordan).

2/17/10 -- Moore Hill Road, Athol

For a relatively quiet feeder year, the snow brought in a multitude of birds. A pair of carolina wrens, 2 brown creepers, redbellied woodpecker, whitethroated sparrows, tree sparrows and the regular allotment of normal other winter feeder birds. (report from Kate and Greg Watkevich).

2/15/10 -- Worcester airport

Around 8:30 am at the Worcester Airport I saw 38 Snow Buntings, 12 Horned larks and 2 Lapland Longspurs. At 4 pm looking into the sun there were 68 snow buntings perched on the fence. (report from Rodney Jenkins).

2/14/10 -- Hubbardston

A Northern Shrike was seen at Mt Jefferson Conservation Area in Hubbardston on 2/12, and was still there today. The area is also hosting many American Robins, at least three Eastern Bluebirds, and about 15 Cedar Waxwings. (report from Wendy Howes).

2/14/10 -- Brookfields/South Quabbin

We spent Valentine's Day morning birding some local spots. Here are the highlights:

SPENCER: Wild Turkey (8);

QUABOG RIVER, BROOKFIELD: Canada Goose (9); Mallard (6); A Black Duck (59); "MallardXBlack" (1m); Common Merganser (17); Bald Eagle (1ad sitting on icy edge eating what looked like to be a muskrat); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); Pileated Woodpecker (1); N Mockingbird (2: getting scarce in these parts in recent years);

SOUTH QUABBIN, QUABBIN PARK (95% frozen);: Mallard (pair in the spillway); Common Merganser (pair); Bald Eagle (4 imm+1ad); Common Raven: (1+displaying pair over Ram); Red-breasted Nuthatch (3);

PELHAM OVERLOOK: Eastern Bluebird (6);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

2/13/10 -- Shrewsbury

An adult Bald Eagle was seen on the Shrewsbury side of Lake Quinsigamond, South Main Street, at 9:45 AM, flying low toward lake. (report from David Frustaci).

2/12/10 -- Worcester Airport

Around 7:30 this morning I parked up at the old parking lot hoping to see the Snow Buntings. I was fortunate to have them land in front of me for about 5 minutes, and then they moved on. I think the flock is even bigger than before, but it's hard to count as they are very nervous. In among them was one Lapland Larkspur. Also, as I was leaving I saw 3 Horned Larks in the grass. (report from Peter Morlock).

2/9/10 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton

I saw a long eared owl today in the late afternoon, at Bolton Flats just north of the parking lot on the north side of route 117. It was a close encounter with no question of the ID. I have seen many great horned, barred and screech owls. When I saw this I knew instantly it was something else. I was cutting through thick brush and saplings when I came face to face with it at eye level from maybe 30 feet away. I had no camera and he flushed when I tried to get close with my phone camera. When he flew I was totally convinced by his size that he could not be anything other than a long ear, not that I had much doubt after the close look I got.(report from Mike Zaborowski).

2/9/10 -- Webster

This morning there were 5 Mute Swans in a cove near the French River in Webster and near the bridge that separates Dudley from Webster. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

2/8/10 -- Marlboro

This morning I had 6 Redwinged Blackbirds in my feeder tree in my yard. It was my first Redwings of the year! (report from Laura Lane).

2/7/10 -- Worcester airport

The airport parking lot was graced with the gathering of some 50 snow buntings this evening just before sundown. I asked them to undulate back to me and they did!! I live one minute away from the airport proper. and it was my first time to see snow buntings. (report from Joanne Hart).

2/6/10 -- Quabbin Reservation, Quabbin Park

From 7:22 A.M. to 4:27 P.M.: Here is the extended trip report (report from Chris Ellison).

2/5/10 -- Rt2, Gardner

I had a nice sighting of Northern Goshawk on Rt2 west, just after exit 22 west, 3:30 pm. I pulled over for a good view and the bird was perched very upright, high in a deciduous tree. It was an adult male with full gray plumage, light gray underside, dark head with visible white supercillium, upper white tailcoverts were also visible. Also had 2 red tails perched along the drive. (report from Greg Watkevich).

2/4/10 -- Bolton Flats

I walked the north section of Bolton flats late afternoon/early evening, with hilights:   Great Horned Owl    1; Northern Shrike       1; Common Grackle   2200; Red-winged Blackbird  1900;   The blackbirds were headed north, to roost, in two seperate flocks, the first was ~80% Grackles, including one with a white tail, the 2nd flock was ~80% Red-wings. The view of the shrike was at dusk and I was unable to age it. (report from Tom Pirro).

2/4/10 -- Lancaster

I have had a chipping sparrow coming to my feeder since before Jan 28th.  It usually comes around the afternoon and stays for a few minutes.  Here are some digi-bino images (photo 1| photo 2| photo 3) taken today. (report from Jessica Johnson).

2/3/10 -- Millbury

This morning we have a large flock of grackles and red wings in Millbury off Riverlin St., for the first time this year. (report from Susan LaBree).

2/2/10 -- Ware River Watershed

I took an 11 mile "loop walk" in the Ware River Watershed from late morning until 6:15PM. Some distance was covered after dark, helping on the Owls, though the Barred was seen during daylight. Much Hemlock and Spruce was encountered, and hence the RB nuts and GC Kings. Not a sparrow nor Blue Jay!! Nice walk. Here is the complete list of birds:

Great Horned Owl 1
Barred Owl 1
Northern Saw-whet Owl 2
Downy Woodpecker 9
Hairy Woodpecker 6
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 feeding on sumac
Pileated Woodpecker     1
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 119
Tufted Titmouse 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch 22
White-breasted Nuthatch 9
Brown Creeper 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet 28
American Robin 13
Purple Finch 32 the only real surprise (2 on Coldbrook rd and 30 on
Caldwell rd near rte 122)
American Goldfinch 4

(report from Tom Pirro).

For previous sightings, see January 2010 Archives or Archive Index