January 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
• 1/6/10 -- Ornithology Competition - Help Needed
• 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:

1/31/10 -- Northfield

We headed to Bartons Cove today -- a rather quiet day, with all the usual winter birds, 60 or so herring gulls a few ring billed gulls and mute swans. We decided to head back through Northfield, MA looking for Snowbuntings and Horned Larks, with no luck. But, on Pine Meadow Road, off Rt63 heading to Northfield, we got a great look at a Merlin, near a barn and open field. Followed the road further along to the Conn river along the fields and sighted 6 bluebirds, a redbellied wood pecker and a Red Tailed Hawk along the tree line. (report from Greg and Kate Watkevich).

1/29/10 -- Worcester airport

I drove to the airport to see the snow buntings at 2:00 today, and saw 8-10 male and female horned larks. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

1/28/10 -- Park Ave, Worcester

There was a pair of Red-tailed Hawks sitting within inches of each other on the Peacock weathervane of the First Baptist Church on the corner of Park Ave. and Salisbury Street at 4:00 pm today. Initially I saw one when it caught my attention by the little squeaks it was making, but then a second one joined it. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

1/27/10 -- Lancaster/ Boylston

This afternoon, while riding past the Bolton Flats entrance on Route 110 (Still River Rd), I saw a huge flock of blackbirds in the tree above the old building. I drove in and scoped them and had a conservative count of 250 Common Grackles with maybe about 50 Red-winged Blackbirds mixed in.

At gate 6, Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston, there were 2 adult and 1 juvenile Bald Eagle on the ice. There appears to be some nest building going on in the usual spot.
(report from Alan Marble).

1/27/10 -- Sutton

This morning, there was a Red-shouldered Hawk perched in a tree across from the First Congregational Church in Sutton center. (report from Alan Marble).

1/26/10 -- Worcester Airport

I finally saw the Snow Buntings at Worcester Airport today around 1:00 pm. There were 9 of them. I also heard their sweet call. There was an additional bird with them that I was unable to identify. It was rather dark, but I couldn't confirm it as a Horned Lark. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

1/24/10 -- Winimusset WMA, New Braintree

During an afternoon visit to Winimusset WMA, Barry van Dusen, Alan Rawle, and I had a distant look at the perched Rough-legged Hawk. We were on the Hardwick Road section, and the bird was near McKay Road. It could not be re-located when we drove out for a closer look. We also saw 2 Northern Flickers, good numbers of American Robins, a couple of Eastern Bluebirds, and about 25 Cedar Waxwings. (report from Wendy Howes).

1/24/10 -- New Braintree/Clinton

Kim Allen and I observed:

At the MacKay Road entrance at Winimusset WMA in New Braintree a light-morph Rough-legged Hawk soaring in lazy circles with 2 Red-tailed Hawks. The birds were quite close to each other but seemed unconcerned with the other's presence. There was a Cooper's Hawk teed up in a dead tree watching this raptor show. It was quite a sight against the clear blue sky.

At "the pond that never freezes" in Clinton there were 4 Ring-necked Ducks, 5 Wood Ducks and 6 Black Ducks mixed in with the usual array of Canada Geese and Mallards. We may have been able to pick out more duck, but a snowmobiler roared past us from Rt 110 down the steep hill to the pond and flushed all the birds.
(report from Alan Marble).

1/21/10 -- Rollstone Hill, Fitchburg

This evening, I estimated approximately 1500 American Crows near Rollstone Hill in Fitchburg. I heard at least 1 Fish Crow in the mix. There has been a roost in this general area for many years. (report from Tom Pirro).

1/17/10 -- Boylston, MA

The immature Bald Eagle continues to stay at Wachusett Reservoir. The bird was a naked-eye sighting from Rt. 140 at South Bay around 11:30 am. The bird stayed on the ice for three to four minutes and then flew off to the North, most likely headed for open water. A nice sighting before the storm strikes.

Also, as a public service notice, anyone interested in proposed changes at the summit of Mt. Wachusett, a meeting will be held by DCR on 1/25/10 at 7:00 pm. It will be held at the Thomas Prince School, 170 Sterling Rd (Rt. 62), Princeton, MA. The snow date is 1/28/10 at the same location and time.

(report from Steve Olson).

1/17/10 -- downtown Worcester

I hadn't noticed any reports of the Peregrines this year; so I went downtown at 1:00 PM today to search for them. They were easily found on the words "Flagship Bank" that face the Common; one was perched on the "L" and one was perched on the "K". (report from Bart Kamp).

1/16/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir/Worcester Airport

In the morning: There was very little open water at the main body of Wachusett Reservoir, but we did have: Mute Swan (8); Canada Goose (2); Mallard (24: all off River Road); Greater Scaup (7); Hooded Merganser (1m); and (1imm) Bald Eagle perched on Cunningham Ledge.

At about 4PM, we headed out to the airport to check for Short-eared Owls. We dipped on that, but did have: Horned Lark (35+); Snow Bunting (flock of c.50 in the parking lot south of the main terminal. Very restless); Robins were everywhere and we watched c. 2000+ head to a roost further west in Leicester. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

1/15/10 -- Westboro WMA, Westboro

This morning near Big Chauncy, I saw a Northern Shrike and an American Kestrel both perched up high. Also there were Tree, White-throated and Song Sparrows along with a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a few Cardinals. Also, at the old Worcester Airport parking lot there were 50+ Snow Buntings. (report from Peter Morlock).

1/14/10 -- Grafton Center

The screech owl continues to be heard. I also heard two great horned owls hooting back and forth tonight. This is only the second time I have ever heard them in my residential neighborhood. I am hoping they were just passing through, and don't eat my screech owl. (report from Scott Jordan).

1/13/10 -- Northboro & West Boylston

Today we had 8 male Red-winged blackbirds in the trees on our property in Northboro.  Then at 3PM, after birding Tower Hill, we had 150+ Red-winged blackbirds on the ice at South Bay Wachusett Reservoir.  They flew into nearby trees and then back out over the ice where they had been feeding on something.  This flock was mixed males and females.  We thought this a bit unusual for mid January.  (report from Jim & Kathie Hogan).

1/11/10 -- Worcester Airport

I dipped on the Snow Buntings at the Worcester Airport today at noon, but did see 3 Horned Larks. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

1/10/10 -- Worcester Airport/Winimusett WMA, New Braintree

At about 9:30, Kim Allen and I saw 47 Snow Buntings and 2 Horned larks at the old parking lot at Worcester Airport.

At the MacKay Rd entrance at Winimusett WMA, New Braintree, we did not locate the Rough-legged Hawk that I saw there recently, but did get a good look at a Northern Shrike. At one point it flew by low carrying prey, but we were not able to identify what it had captured.
(report from Alan Marble).

1/10/09 -- Route I 190, Sterling

At about 7:30 AM this morning there was a Northern Shrike perched on the top of a tree in the center median of I 190 near where the road passes Sterling Airport and Sterling Peat. (report from Bart Kamp).

1/10/10 -- Worcester Airport

In the mid-afternoon, there were 20-30 horned larks in the parking lot after the terminal and near the fence line. (report from Garry Kessler).

1/8/10 -- Winimusett WMA, New Braintree

At the MacKay Rd entrance to Winimusett WMA this morning there was a light morph Rough-legged Hawk. The bird was perch pretty close when I pulled up but flew in a few seconds, flashing it's spectacular underwings. It returned in a few minutes and perched high in a couple of trees allowing me to get a couple of long-distance digi-scoped photos. (photo 1| photo 2) (report and photos from Alan Marble).

1/7/10 -- Worcester Airport

Late this morning, there were 53 Snow Buntings in the old parking lot at the Worcester Airport. (report from Alan Marble).

1/4/10 -- Westboro Wildlife Management Area

I cross country skied around the area between the 2 Chauncey Ponds yesterday and found a few birds hanging out including a N. Shrike, 4 E. Bluebirds (very vivid blue against the snow!) and a few Mallards on a small pool of open water. Other birds of note: Hairy Woodpecker, A. Robin, and A. Tree Sparrrow. (report from Laura Lane).

1/3/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston

In the evening, from Gate 25, a Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult) was at the roost on the ice. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

1/3/10 -- West Millbury

This morning, I have had 2 male Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers feeding on suet and whole peanuts. One vigorously defended the suet from a larger Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch and a Blue Jay. None of those birds wanted anything to do with this feisty fellow. (report from Alan Marble).

1/2/10 -- All Faith's Cemetery, Worcester

A late afternoon trip to Leesville Pond in snow and wind and gloom, had the following: Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (95: w/more flying in as we left); Mallard (102); A Black Duck (22); Northern Pintail (1m); Common Goldeneye (1f); Hooded Merganser (19); American Crow (300+ in some kind of pre-roost. On the way home, driving down Park Ave at 4PM, we saw 400++ crows in the trees off May Street between Park Ave and Main). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

1/1/10 -- Worcester/Auburn/Shrewsbury

The Fobush Bird Club started the new year and decade with an afternoon bird trip that started in Worcester, continued into Auburn and ended in Shrewsbury. Here is the complete list of the 26 species observed. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

1/1/10 --Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston

In the evening, from Gate 26, a Glaucous Gull (1w) appeared at the roost on the ice for about 20 minutes and then took off. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

1/1/10 -- Worcester

Birds seen today.

Morning yard birds: 2 male turkeys, 1 red-tailed hawk, 12 mourning doves, 1 red-bellied woodpecker, 1 yellow bellied sapsucker, 6 downy woodpeckers, 1 hairy woodpecker, 1 pileated woodpecker, 3 blue jays, 2 American crows, 2 black-capped chickadees, 3 tufted titmice, 2 white breasted nuthatches, 1 song sparrow, 6 white-throated sparrows, 60 dark-eyed juncos, 2 northern cardinals, 6 house finches, 2 American goldfinches and 3 house sparrows.

Afternoon birds: Worcester Airport: 15 robins, 9 horned larks and 1 snow bunting. Wachusett Reservoir area: 660 Canada geese, 8 mute swans at bushy island, 6 wood ducks and 9 ring-necked ducks in the pond that never freezes, 3 black ducks, 25 mallard ducks, 12 greater scaup, 35 common goldeneye, 24 hooded mergansers, 15 common mergansers, 5 common loons, 1 red-necked grebe, 1 great cormorant on and around bushy island and amongst the gulls at the gull roost 1 first winter Iceland gull and 1 adult Iceland gull. (report from Bart Kamp).

1/1/10 -- Sturbridge

I saw and photographed a red-bellied woodpecker at 12.10 pm. (report and photo from Nicole Kenneally).

For previous sightings, see December 2009 Archives or Archive Index