January 2006 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:

1/30/06 -- Millbury/Worcester Bikepath
Another early bird: I got an up close and personal view of a ruby-crowned kinglet today on the Millbury end of the bikepath. (report from Alan Marble).

1/30/06 -- Westborough
I've seen a brown thrasher twice in the past week (1/23-1/30) in my yard in Westborough. It was eating seeds on the ground near one of our feeders. Seems a bit early, but it was definitely a brown thrasher. (report from Paula Kirk).

1/29/06 -- Flint Pond, Shrewsbury
On Flint Pond today I saw: 1 Wood Duck, 7 GADWALL( at the boat ramp), 25 Common Merganser, 12 Hooded Merganser, 25 Common Goldeneye and 15 Mute Swans. (15, can you believe it?). (report from John Shea).

1/29/06 -- Millers Pond, Barre
Among the 200 or so "regular" gulls roosting on the ice of Millers Pond were a second year and an adult Iceland Gull. Millers Pond is on the Ware River along route 122, across from the landfill. (report from Chris Buelow)

1/28/06 -- Mumford river, Douglas/Whitinsville/Uxbridge
At a couple different stops in the morning there were 12 Canada Goose, 10 Mallards, , 7 Common Mergansers, 2 Hooded Mergansers and 2 Am. Black Ducks. (report from Dan Wheeler).

1/28/06 -- Quabbin Reservoir
This morning at Quabbin Reservoir I saw 2 adult bald eagles at Enfield Lookout, and 6 eastern bluebirds on the slope of Goodnough Dike. (report from Robert Brady).

1/27/06 -- Institute Park, Worcester
Yesterday (1/26) at noon there were 4 Hooded Mergansers, 6 Common Mergansers, and 1 Belted Kingfisher. Today at noon, however, none of these were present. (report from Rick Quimby).

1/25/06 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
There was a flock of about 250 Robins on the north end of the "stretch" aka The Troiano Brookside Trail. At the southern end of the trail at the beaver dam a Mink crossed the trail and crossed the brook. Also there were 3 Song Sparrows. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

1/22/06 -- Westboro WMA, Westboro
Taking advantage of the great weather on Sunday, we spent the day at the Westboro WMA. Highlights were Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, and Eastern Phoebe. Comments: The fields were full of Downy Woodpeckers, many of which appeared to be searching for insects in the cornstalks. Pictures can be found here: photo1| photo2.
We were pretty sure about the Phoebe even though its very late/early in the year. It behaved like a phoebe and was bobbing its tail. I couldn't get close enough to take a good picture of the bird but I have some long distance shots ( photo3. (report from Rick, Barbara, and Mike Walker).

1/22/06 -- Bolton
We stopped by a small orchard on the border with Berlin and had the following in the afternoon: American Robin (450++); Cedar Waxwing (40+); Dark-eyed Junco (10+). (report from Mark Lynch).

1/22/06 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
A walk along the Dike at Wachusett Reservoir this afternoon, we observed 8 Eastern Bluebirds in the field below the dike. There was also a Red-tailed hawk flying in and out the pine trees just beyond the field. We walked up to the Clinton High School side of the Reservoir and discovered another 11 Eastern Bluebirds flying around the birdhouses close to the Reservoir. Just seems odd to see Bluebirds in January but maybe not. (report from Steve & Kathy Olson).

1/21/06 -- Worcester landfill/downtown Worcester
At the landfill: Turkey Vulture (2); Red-tailed Hawk (2). Downtown, at least one Peregrine Falcon has been seen several times this past week perched or flying around the vicinity of the City Hall commons. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

1/21/06 -- Fitchburg/Westminster
  • Hilights from Saw Mill Pond (aka Flag's Pond) in Fitchburg this afternoon: Black Duck 10; Herring Gull ~150; Lesser Black-backed gull 1 adult; Greater Black-backed Gull ~30.
  • At the Old Mill Resturant pond in Westminster: Mallard 100 +/-; Black Duck ~20; Wood Duck 2 a pair; Hooded Merganser 2. and an assortment of domestic watefowl. (report from Tom Pirro).

    • 1/21/06 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
    There was a pair of Northern pintails with a black duck, a few mallards, 3 Canada geese and 3 hooded mergansers behind the cemetery this afternoon. (report from Alan Marble).

    1/18/06 -- Sterling
    Barred owls and great horned owls have been calling regularly from the woods near the house. Feeder birds have been nothing but ordinary, so far this winter. At midday, while looking out the window and marveling at the intensity of the wind and rain , my wife and I saw a bobcat, walking through the woods , quite close to the house. This was our first ever bobcat sighting, and to see one, at midday from inside the house, was extremely fortunate.. (report from Richard Spedding).

    1/17/06 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    Over the past three weeks, a Red-tailed hawk (mature) has been roosting in the tall dead pine in the center of the peat. He is very obvious and is really a naked-eye bird. In the time period of three weeks, I've seen him on five of six observations under a variety of conditions. A lot of these observations have been close to dusk and the bird flies off to the Southeast. However, he seems to be a constant and perennial happy camp at the Peat. (report from Steve Olson)

    1/16/06 -- Wachusett Meadows Sanctuary, Princeton
    Winter birds at the Meadow have been very ordinary to this point. Even the numbers of juncos, chickadees, etc have been very low. Yesterday, however, a flock of 17 Common redpolls showed up during an afternoon squall and they are here again this a.m. at the cottage feeders. (report from Dick Knowlton).

    1/15/06 -- Lancaster
    I saw one common raven foraging on the ground at the Lancaster Flea Market off Route 70 on Sunday. (report from Scott Jordan).

    1/15/06 -- Hardwick
    Common Redpolls made a first-of-the-year appearance at the feeders during the storm this morning, and were actively feeding on thistle all day. There were seven at dawn, a dozen by noon, and over 20 by mid-afternoon. Previously, small flocks had been seen elsewhere around town since December. (report from Chris Buelow)

    1/13/06 -- Wachusett Meadows Sanctuary, Princeton
    Taking advantage of the warm weather were these cedar waxwings . (report and photo from Richard Johnson).

    1/13/06 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton
    The highlight was 2 Eastern Phoebes passing through one of the beaver swamps. Also, a Pileated Woodpecker gave us a start when it flew out right over us calling loudly. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    1/13/06 -- bikepath, Millbury/Worcester
    Seen over the Worcester end of the bikepath today: turkey vulture, Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk and belted kingfisher. (report from Alan Marble).

    1/13/06 -- downtown Worcester
    At 12:30 pm, two peregrine falcons were observed flying around Pearl St. near Main. They flew over the Pearl St. parking garage, and one perched for some time on the apt building at the corner of Chestnut and Pearl. (report from Rick Quimby).

    1/12/06 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
    On this spring like day we were not too surprised watching a Belted-kingfisher dive into the water and return to his perch with a fish in his beak which he promptly gobbled. At the Power Line Trail, 1 Eastern Bluebird, and a Carolina Wren. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    1/12/06 -- South Meadow Pond/Clinton H.S., Clinton
    Today at noon there was a Ruddy Duck at South Meadow and a Kestrel on the telephone wires across from Clinton High School. (report from Peter Morlock).

    1/11/06 -- Barrows Rd. Worcester
    About noon today a small flock of Juncos flew into my yard along with a HERMIT THRUSH. Is it Spring already? (report from Howard Shainheit).

    1/10/06 -- Oxbow NWR, Harvard
    On my way to work at 8:00 am I stopped off for a little birding, with highlights of Red-tailed Hawk 2 (Paired up); Cedar Waxwing 8; Hairy Woodpecker; and Eastern Bluebird. On my way out I noticed something in the field to my left. It was a Bobcat that was ready to pounce on something in the snow. It pulled out something that was much larger than a mouse and slowly walked away. It stopped and gave me a look and then started to devour it's breakfast. (report from Peter Morlock).

    1/9/06 -- Westboro WMA, Westboro
    This morning at 10:00 AM in the thickets to the north of Lake Chauncy there was a Juv Northern Shrike. About an hour later when I came out, it was still there, but in a different tree. This time it was calling. (report from Peter Morlock).

    1/8/06 -- Sterling/ Wachusett Reservoir
  • Hilights from Wachusett Reservoir this afternoon: Common Loon 2; Black Duck ~50; Hooded Merganser 2; Common Merganser 2; Bald Eagle 1 imm.; Ring-billed Gull ~4,000-5,000; Herring Gull ~3,000; Great Black-backed Gull ~500; Glaucous Gull 1 (1st year type). The Gulls were coming in to roost in the main body of the reservior off a pennisula at the end of the gate 22 road. The reservior personnel were out in their boat,and a few trucks were stationed at various points near the Clinton end, I presume to harrass and keep the gulls away from pumping station. Gulls number were a rough estimate.
  • Near Coachlace Pond in Clinton were 8 Eastern Bluebird, but NO waterfowl on the "pond that never freezes".
  • Along Legate Hill Road in Sterling there were 2 Field Sparrows. (report from Tom Pirro).

    • 1/8/06 -- Garder/Westminster
    A few hiltes this morning:
    Gardner: Wood Duck 1 the drake at Bent's Pond in South Gardner continues
    Westminster (High Ridge WMA): Northern Flicker 1; Cedar Waxwing 25; Northern Shrike 1 imm.
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    1/7/06 -- Douglas/Northbridge/Uxbridge/Wachusett Reservoir
  • Pre-dawn at soem stops in DOUGLAS: Great Horned Owl (4); Barred Owl (1); N. Saw-whet Owl (2);
  • NORTHBRIDGE SEWER BEDS: Red-tailed Hawk (1); Wood Duck (7); Virginia Rail (1); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Cedar Waxwing (4); Song Sparrow (1); Swamp Sparrow (1); Rusty Blackbird (6); A Goldfinch (27);
  • WHITIN POND, UXBRIDGE: Mute Swan (3); Canada Goose (78: including one hybrid or leucistic, with a normal Canada head, but a very washed out, white body with grayer feather edges); Mallard (18); A Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (12); Hooded Merganser (5); Common Merganser (1); Great Black-backed Gull (19);
  • LINWOOD POND, NORTHBRIDGE: Canada Goose (35); Mallard (8); A. Black Duck (8); N. Pintail (2); Mourning Dove (60+); PLUS: 2 goose hunters with decoys on the grassy area right across the river (golf course?);
  • WACHUSETT RESERVOIR (just a few stops); Common Loon (3); Canada Goose (147: all in the tiny "pond that never freezes"); Mallard (6); Ring-necked Duck (1); Common Goldeneye (8); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (8); Bald Eagle (1ad); Cooper's Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (4); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 1/5/06 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston/Clinton
  • At River Road around 11:00 AM today there were about 100 gulls (Mostly Greater Black Backs) sitting on the ice. There was one Iceland Gull (1st W). Also in the river there was a Ring-necked Duck.
  • At Gate 39 in Clinton, there were 2 adult Bald Eagles perched on the same branch out on the island. There also were 5 Common Goldeneyes, 3 Hooded Mergansers and a Common Loon. (report from Peter Morlock).

    • 1/2/05 -- Quabbin Reservoir/Brookfields/Worcester
  • We started the day just before and at dawn in Coldbrook Road, Ware River Watershed IBA. We were checking to see if any Red Crossbills were present at the spruces. They aren't. We did have: Barred Owl (2); N. Saw-whet Owl (1); Pileated Woodpecker (1); Winter Wren (an amazing 4); Common Redpoll (5); BTW: the road was trecherous with packed snow covering thick very slippery ice. I have no idea if this road will remain open.
  • On RT. 122 PETERSHAM: (1); Pileated Woodpecker flew right over the road.
  • FEDERATED WOMEN'S CLUBS SF: very few birds, but we did have: Winter Wren (2: feeding along the stream);
  • RT.202 ORANGE: just north of Rt.2: Red-tailed Hawk (1); Northern Shrike (1imm);
  • FEEDER IN ORANGE ON SANDRA DRIVE: Belted Kingfisher (1 flew overhead); Black-capped Chickadee (10+); BOREAL CHICKADEE (1 continues: great views as it feeds from various feeders); Red-breasted Nuthatch (1); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); Blue Jay (10+); A Tree Sparrow (1);
  • NEW SALEM: Pileated Woodpecker (2); Blue Jay (35: 1 flock); Eastern Bluebird (2);
  • PELHAM OVERLOOK ON RT.202: NOTHING! No birds were seen flying which is very unusual.
  • QUABBIN PARK, SOUTH QUABBIN: very few birds with almost NO water birds despite the completely open water, almost no raptors and extremely few passerines: Mallard (1: the only water bird found despite much searching); Bald Eagle (2ad: 1 at the fish hatchery, the other very far away along the Prescott); Wild Turkey (5); Pileated Woodpecker (1 heard); A tree Sparrow (8); PLUS: (2); Otters off the dam. Snow Bunting (10);
  • QUABOG RIVER, BROOKFIELD: at bridge: Hooded Merganser (17); Common Merganser (4);
  • LEESVILLE POND/ALL FAITH'S CEMETERY: Mallard (5); A. Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (11); Common Merganser (4); Muskrat (3);
  • NOTRE DAME CEMETERY: Mallard (18); A Black Duck (3); Green-winged Teal (2); N. Pintail (2); Hooded Merganser (8); Belted Kingfisher (1); Swamp Sparrow (1); NOTA BENE: with the several beaver dams now constructed and flooding this bend of the river, it will be interesting to see what happens when spring high water comes.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 1/1/06 -- Forbush Bird Club New Year's Day Trip, Worcester/Shrewsbury
    The Forbush Bird Club held its annual New Year's Day trip on Sunday, January 1, 2006 within the city of Worcester and the town of Shrewsbury. Highlights were a drake Northern Pintail at Notre Dame Cemetery, an adult Peregrine Falcon in downtown Worcester and Redheads at Regatta Point on Lake Quinsigamond. These 30 species started our 2006 local lists. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

    1/1/06 -- Marlborough Industrial Park, Marlboro
    While tooling down Rt.20 this morning, we discovered a huge number of birds feeding in the Marlborough Industral Park and in the large wooded lot next to it. These birds were flying all over, some leaving, others arriving, many feeding. Determining numbers was tough, but we saw and estimated: American Robin: easily 2000+ Cedar Waxwing: easily 250+ European Starling: easily 300+ BOHEMIAN WAXWING: 1: we got a scope on this bird, the flock eventually flew and we never relocated the bird again, despite searching. These birds were feeding on crab apples, sumac, bittersweet and other fruits in and around the corporate buildings but also in the dense thickets next to the park. They seemed constantly on the move, so I have no idea if they will remain. (report from Mark Lynch).

    For previous sightings, see December 2005 Archives or Archive Index