July 2000 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.

7/31/00 -- Salisbury Pond (Institute Park), Worcester

The GREAT EGRET was once again at Salisbury Pond, and was seen at 7:30 PM perched on the fallen over tree at the east end. Through the art museum, I have also heard of another Great Egret at the Holden Country Club today in Jefferson (Holden), at the pool by the golf course. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/31/00 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner

This evening the following were hilites from a quick evening walk into High Ridge WMA off Smith Street in Gardner: Am. Bittern 1; Gr. Blue Heron 4; Green Heron 2 imm; Wood Duck 10-20. The Bittern flushed from a brushy "field" about 100 yard from the marsh. Last year on a few occasions 1 or 2 A. Bitterns flushed from this spot; the brush is a little bit higher than the Bittern is tall. (report from Tom Pirro).

7/30/00 -- Salisbury Pond (Institute Park), Worcester

As we were heading out to eat at 5:30 PM, we saw a GREAT EGRET perched in trees of the island at Salisbury Pond (we actually stopped, walked down and looked at it). Returning home at 8:15 PM the egret was still there, though now perched at the fire house end of the pond on the fallen tree often used by cormorants. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/30/00 -- Worcester county shorebird search

FISHERVILLE POND, GRAFTON: The water level is back up. Whether this is due to the recent rain or a change in plans, it is not known. Only a small edge of mud is visible and very few shorebirds were present: GREAT EGRET (1); Great Blue Heron (1); Green Heron (1 imm); Mute Swan (1 on shore that appeared sick); Mallard (4); OSPREY (pair nest building. Undoubtably part of pair bonding for next year. As one bird perched atop the tall power poles (good nesting site), the other searched for large sticks, brought them back and started to build a nest. This went on the entite time we were there); Killdeer (1); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Wilow Flycatcher (1); Indigo Bunting (1).
NORTHBRIDGE SEWER BEDS: Mallard (40); Killdeer (3); Spotted Sandpiper (8); Solitary Sandpiper (17); Lesser Yellowlegs (1); Least Sandpiper (50); Semipalmated Sandpiper (3); Willow Flycatcher (1); E. Phoebe (4); Bank Swallow (8); Barn Swallow (4); Indigo Bunting (1ad m+ 3 yng)
OAKDALE BALL FIELD: This was the same ball field that the Baird's was in several years ago: Killdeer (9)
STERLING PEAT: The water level is up a bit. Like Fisherville, there were very few shorebirds. There WAS lots of gun fire as two groups blasted away at the peat farm and sandpit area. Double-Crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (1); SNOWY EGRET (1); Green Heron (4ad+1imm); Canada Goose (5); Mallard (10); A. Black Duck (5); Virginia Rail (2); Killdeer (2); Greater Yellowlegs (1); Least Sandpiper (1); Spotted Sandpiepr (3); Belted Kingfisher (2); E. Wood Peewee (1); Willow Flycatcher (6); E. Phoebe (2); E. Kingbird (2); Tree Swallow (120+); Bank Swallow (20+); N. Rough Winged Swallow (3); Barn Swallow (15+); Cliff Swallow (1); (NOTE; at one point we had 5 species of swallow perched in one small dead tree right in front of us) A. Robin (1ad feeding 4 young still in nest);
BUTTERFLIES included Cabbage White; Orange Sulphur; A. Copper; Viceroy. WILDFLOWERS included Hyssop Skullcap; Swamp Milkweed; Boneset (common); Steeplebush (abundant); Blue Vervain and lots of puffballs. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

---------------Lyme Disease interview----------

On Sunday, August 6, WICN (90.5 FM) will air my interview with Dr. Arno Karlen who has just written BIOGRAPHY OF A GERM an actual 'biography" (a la Lytton Strachey) of Borrelia burgdorferi, the devilish little spirochete that causes Lyme Disease. He talks about the ecology of the "germ", the discovery of deer ticks as a host for this disorder and the history of Lyme in North America (or what is theorized about it). Was Lyme Disaese always here or what it brought here by European colonists? Where was Lyme in the 1800's? He talks about the role that deer, White-Footed Mice and birds have in spreading Lyme and how ticks function. He even talks about where the name of the spirochete came from. It's really pretty interesting for anyone who spends time out of doors. (submitted by Mark Lynch).

7/29/00 -- Delaney WMA (Bolton/Harvard/Stow)

Update on Song/Grasshopper sparrow: I got an e-mail from Simon Perkins. When he and Andrea Jones mistnetted the strange sparrow from Delaney last year, they took blood samples. DNA analysis has shown this bird to be, indeed, a hybrid Grasshopper/Song, the first ever recorded. Andrea returned to Delaney some weeks back and refound the sparrow, the same one we had one on the Delaney trip this weekend. To look for this unique sparrow, park at the main boat launch at the south impoundment and walk out over the dyke (where most people walk thier dogs). You will come to a large depressed area of grasses with several trails running across it. The bird has been hanging out in the middle sections. Listen for a Song Sparrow song and look for a bird "T"eed up that looks "weird". It should look very much like a Grasshopper Sparrow about the head but have streaks on the breast and a very long tail (and it's singing a Song Sparrow song). PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT walk in the grasses except on the trails. Just be patient, we got great looks. These birds are disturbed enough by the dogs. I cannot emphasize this enough. (report from Mark Lynch).

7/29/00 -- Delaney WMA (Bolton/Harvard/Stow)

We had a great class trip to Delaney WMA this AM, covering a good deal of the property. Bird song was local and infrequent, so the list of passeriiformes is skewed. Birds seen included: Great Blue Heron (10+ 4 almost fledged young still in two nests); Green Heron (4); Wood Duck (72); Mallard (1); RING-NECKED DUCK ( 1 1stW m. A surprise for July); Virginia Rail (12); Spotted Sandpiper (6); Solitary Sandpiper (2); Least Sandpiper (2); Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (5); Hairy Woodpecker (4); N. Flicker (6); E. Wood Peewee (6); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); E. Phoebe (5); E. Kingbird (15); Tree Swallow (200+); Bank Swallow (7); Barn Swallow (5); Carolina Wren (3); House Wren (3); MARSH WREN (6: a month ago when I did the BBS, there were NO Marsh Wrens); Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (1); Veery (1); Hermit Thrush (3); Cedar waxwing (16); Yellow-Throated Vireo (1); Red-Eyed Vireo (2); Warbling Vireo (2); Very few WARBLERS seen because there was so little song: Yellow (3); Black-Throated Green (1); Pine (5); C. Yellowthroat (2); Indigo Bunting (3); E. Towhee (2); Chipping Sparrow (21); Savannah Sparrow (5); GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (2, 1 singing away: nice views. NOTE BENE; we had another bird, first noticed singing a variation of a Song Sparrow song, "t"eed up. The bird had the head of a Grasshopper Sparrow w/white central crown stripe; flat head, large bill, and lots of buff on checks and breast, BUT had thin streaks on the braest and a REALLY long tail. See: NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS V. 53/N. 4 pp 366 for notes on a bird seen and netted and photo'ed by Jones and Perkins at Delaney in 1999 that they thought may be a hybrid Grasshopper/Song. I saw a similar bird about a month back but never got perfect looks at it); Song Sparrow (27); Swamp Sparrow (19).
BUTTERFLIES SEEN: Cabbage White; Orange Sulphur; C. Wood Nymph; Eyed Brown; Pearl Crescent; White Admiral; Viceroy; Silver Spotted Skipper; Wild Indigo Duskywing. There was an amazing show of INDIAN PIPE, which was everywhere in the forest, and we also noted its close relative (and more colorful) PINESAP. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/28/00-- Institute Park, Worcester

Today at the ponds there was a GREAT EGRET. It was still there at 1:00 pm when I left. Also 1 ad Black-crowned Night Heron and 2 Spotted Sandpipers. (report from Rick Quimby).

7/25/00 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling

The Snowy Egret was still present at 4:00 pm. (report from Bart Kamp).

7/25/00 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At noon today the two SNOWY EGRETS were NOT present. (report from Rick Quimby).

7/24/00 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling

After checking out the Snowy Egrets at Institute Park (see below), Fran McMenemy and Zoan Zumpfe went to Sterling Peat and had another SNOWY EGRET, this one with a darker bill than the two at Institute Park. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

7/24/00 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton

A Great Egret was present early this pm. It was observed to fly from the Clinton dike region to Green Halge Point. (report from Mark Lynch).

7/24/00 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Two imm SNOWY EGRETS were at the pond today at 1:00 pm. They were on the island, easily visible from the main shore. (ID details: thin dark bill, greenish-yellow legs, all white body, size somewhat smaller than nearby Black-crowned Night Herons). Also present were 3 Black-crowned Night Herons (2 juv, 1 sub-ad), and 2 Great-blue Herons, and 1 Spotted Sandpiper. (report from Rick Quimby).

Follow-up report: The two SNOWY EGRETS were still there at 3:00, and seen by Mark Lynch/sheila Carroll, Fran McMenemy and Bart Kamp. From Mark Lynch: This species is much more uncommon in Worcester County than the Great Egret (which itself is an uncommon post breeding visitor to the county). At pondside, joined by Bart Kamp and Fran McMenemy we had the following: Double-Crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (4); SNOWY EGRET (2 newly fledged birds, you could still see some down atop the heads. The leg color was olive green with "yellow slippers"; the bill a dull dark olive); Black-Crowned Night Heron (7: 4ad+3imm); Wood Duck (2); Mallard (25+). Not bad for the center of a city in the middle of the state. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/23/00 -- Hodges Village, Oxford

A lone Great Egret was roosting just above the Dam yesterday and probably the same bird was a bit upriver fishing today (the bird was closer to Greenbrier Park) (report from Paul Meleski).

7/23/00 -- Longmeadow sandbar and Pondside, Connecticut River

We had a class trip to Longmeadow this AM. We started with a scan of the Connecticut River sandbar from the Longmeadow side. Birds on the sandbar were few and far between as the sandbar is just barely showing due to the high level of water. The amount of large pieces of dietrus floating down the river was a testament to all the rain we have been having. We then headed over to nearby Pondside sanctuary. Birds included (totals for both areas): Double Crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (3); Green Heron (13); Mute Swan (3); Canada Goose (17); Wood Duck (58); Semipalmated Plover (1); Killdeer (1); Greater Yellowlegs (2); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Semipalmated Sandpiper (2); Least Sandpiper (2); Ring-Billed Gull (124: almost all adult summer and newly fledged juveniles); Herring Gull (2); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Belted Kingfisher (2); Red-Bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (10); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N. Flicker (9); "empid sp." (1 working the willows out on the sandbar. It was not a "Traill's" type, and appeared to be likley a Least); Willow Flycatcher (1); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); E. Kingbird (6); Tree Swallow (80+ heading south with a purpose down river); N. Rough-winged Swallow (1); Bank Swallow (5); Barn Swallow (1); Carolina Wren (5); House Wren (2); Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (8); Wood Thrush (1); Yellow-Throated Vireo (1); Red-Eyed Vireo (2); warbling Vireo (12); Yellow Warbler (6); C. Yellowthroat (2); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (7); Baltimore Oriole (6).

We then headed over to a certain section of Forest Park in Springfield to look for the rare Hackberry Emperors (a species of butterfly). We put in some good time staring to no good effect at the right trees, but this is often the case with this "wanted" state species. Major dip.

Last, we headed to the sand pit in Southwick, where we DID get a look at the first year male BLUE GROSBEAK. However, it was not singing as it had been only two weeks earlier, but feeding low in the shrubbery past the gate, and being generally difficult to see. Also present were good numbers of species like Prairie Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrow; Baltimore Oriole and Eastern Towhee. (40+) Bank Swallows carreened overhead and A. Kestrel, Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk were noted. We did also hear the Grasshopper Sparrow sing several times from the small fenced-in weedy field where it may have bred. Flocks of newly fledged Brown-Headed Cowbirds also worked the field. Note: birdsong is rapidly toning down and most species we saw were not singing at all (except the vireos of course).
Butterflies noted included Black Swallowtail; Tiger Swallowtail; Cabbage White; Clouded Sulphur; Orange Sulphur; A. Copper; Summer Azure; C. Wood Nymph; White Admiral; Red Admiral; Great Spangled Fritillary; Monarch; Silver Spotted Skipper; C. Sootywing. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/23/00 -- Leesville Pond, city of Worcester (evening)

An early evening survey of Leesville Pond had the following: Mute Swan (2); Wood Duck (50); Mallard (126); A. Black Duck (1); Great Blue Heron (3); Black Crowned Night Heron (1ad); Killdeer (1); E. Kingbird (7); Carolina Wren (2); ALSO: at Hope Cemetary: Killdeer (20). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/22/00 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton

They pulled the plug at Fisherville Pond in Grafton. Great mud flats. I had 200+ Least Sandpipers, 4 Greater Yellowlegs, 5 Solitary Sandpipers, 6 Semi-palmated Sandpipers, 10-15 Spotted Sandpipers, 10-15 Killdeer, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Blue Heron, 3 Belted Kingfishers and 1 hunting Osprey. (report from Bart Kamp).

7/22/00 -- Quabbin Gate 33, New Salem

We had a class trip to Gate 33 in north Quabbin this morning. For those who have never hiked this gate, it is a short walk (about 1.5 miles) to the "big water" and this trail also passes a nice pond and side trails pass interesting wooded marshes. Bird highlights included: Common Loon (2); Double-Crested Cormorant (1); COMMON MERGANSER (1 adult female tending 16 young. Checking references, this is not an uncommon sight where Common Mergs breed, though they are uncommon and local breeders in MA. Where nesting cavities are in short supply [they like Pileated holes] up to 'ten pairs may utilize the same tree". Frank S. Todd states in NATURAL HISTORY OF WATERFOWL, that this sight of a single female with large clutches of 14 or more is evidence of "composite clutches". Other references talk about "creche formation" which I know Hooded Mergs do also.); Broad-Winged Hawk (1 very co-operative young bird that perched in frnt of us, checked us out and basically did not care that we were there); Ruffed Grouse (1); Black-Billed Cuckoo (1); N. SAW-WHET OWL (1 heard and seen); Pileated Woodpecker (2); E. Wood Peewee (5); Least Flycatcher (5: including adult feeding fledged young); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); Red-Breasted Nuthatch (1); Brown Creeper (3); Tree Swallow (200+); Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (2); Veery (4); Hermit Thrush (17; including several newly fledged birds); Blue Headed Vireo (9); Red-Headed Vireo (17);
WARBLERS: Chestnut-Sided (1); Blue-Winged (1); Black-Throated Blue (1); Black-Throated Green (9); Yellow-Rumped (17); Prairie (1); Pine (8: including adults feeding fledged young); C. Yellowthroat (11);
Scarlet Tanager (7: including 1 adult male feeding a fledged young bird); E. Towhee (11) Field Sparrow (2); Chipping Sparrow (10); Song Sparrow (7); Swamp Sparrow (9); White-Throated Sparrow (6: including one adult feeding a cowbird).
PLUS: lots of Indian Pipe; tracks of Fisher; several species of herps and a bizarre array of fungi. Later at a quick stop at Tom Swamp/Spring Pond we had many of the same species of passeriformes but added Great Blue Heron (3); Wood Duck (2); A. Black Duck (2). Butterflies seen included: Spicebush Swallowtail;Summer Azure; Eyed Brown; N. Pearly Eye; Dun Skipper. Note bene: water levels at the Quabbin are high, so look for inland shorebirds elsewhere. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/19/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

Highlights this morning: Viriginia Rail (1); Sora (1); Willow Flycatcher (2); Carolina Wren (5); Wood Thrush (2); Blue-winged Warbler (2); Yellow Warbler (4); Black-and-white Warbler (1); Common Yellowthroat (19); Scarlet Tanager (7); Eastern Towhee (24); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Baltimore Oriole (10 - several immatures);
Also: Great Spangled Fritillary (4), Red Admiral (1), Orange Sulphur (2), Common Wood Nymph (3), Silver Spotted Skipper (1), Cabbage White (1), European Skipper (1), Northern Pearly-Eye (1), Little Wood Satyr (1) (report from John Liller).

7/17/00 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling

-A Short-billed Dowitcher was found by Bart Kamp on Monday, 7/17/00 at Sterling Peat, Sterling. From rt. 140 in Sterling, take Dana Hill road east, which becomes Muddy Pond Rd. Just after the metal grate bridge, look for the pond on your left. The bird was on the side near the Bank Swallow colony. (report from Bart Kamp).

--------------editor's note-------------

I've added a new link to this web site, Places to Bird in Central Massachusetts, which is also indexed in the Central Mass Bird Update homepage. Please let me know if you are interested or have questions about this. Thanks, and good birding! (Rick Quimby)

7/17/00 -- Institute Park, Worcester

A noontime walk yielded 25 species, including 3 Great Blue Herons, 1 Green Heron (ad), 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons (1 ad, 1 2nd yr), 6 Wood ducks (5 imm with ad), and 1 Belted Kingfisher. (report from Rick Quimby).

7/16/00 -- Blackstone River, Rhode Island section

Sheila and I spent the day birding the Rhode Island stretch of the Blackstone River. Birds noted included: Double-Crested Cormorant (40); Mute Swan (10: I have no doubt that it was the Blackstone River that brought these up into Worcester where several pairs now breed and are spreading unfortunately); Wood Duck (15); Mallard (69); Great Blue Heron (4); Great Egret (7: likewise the yearly appearence of this species and the next in the ponds surrounding Worcester as post breeding wanderers is in part due to the Blackstone's natural corridor to the coastal habitats. I have a feeling these herons follow the river up and spread out to surrounding ponds and lakes when they get to the city); Black-Crowned Night Heron (1: probably more present, but difficult to spot); Green Heron (4); Osprey (10: we had Osprey all the way up to the MA border); Sora (1: we did no taping at the marshes); Least Sandpiper (20); Black-Billed Cuckoo (1: BTW: we noticed the trees in the southern MA section of the Blackstone corridor are heavily infested with Tent Caterpillar); E. Phoebe (2); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); E. Kingbird (28); Tree Swallow (30+); N. Rough-Winged Swallow (4); Bank Swallow (20); Red-Eyed Vireo (14); Warbling Vireo (16); Carolina Wren (6); Cedar Waxwing (39); Yellow Warbler (6); C. Yellowthroat (27); Swamp Sparrow (12);
Also seen were numerous odes and butterflies. We had well over 30 Red Admirals for instance as well as Little Wood Satyr, Question Mark ect. The combination of the still canal waters and the flowing river with pools and riffles made for an interesting array of dragonfly and damselfly species too. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/15/00 -- Quinapauxet Reservoir, Holden

Sheila and I surveyed Quinapauxet Reservoir today. Weather conditions were not perfect: some showers, rising wind and overcast. Amazingly, there was still bird song. The water is just now being drawn down, so levels will drop eventually. It will probably be a week or two before good shorbird habitat appears.
Great Blue Heron (3) ; Canada Goose (19: same number as last survey. They hang around the spillway feeding on the grasses); Red-Tailed Hawk (2); Killdeer (1); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Least Sandpiper (1); Ring-Billed Gull (1 adS flew through); Belted Kingfisher (1); Mourning Dove (9); Great Horned Owl (1); Chimney Swift (3); Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (1m); Downy Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (3); N. Flicker (5); E. Wood Peewee (9); E. Phoebe (6); E. Kingbird (9); Tree Swallow (130+: obviously staging for migration to the coast); Bank Swallow (8); N. Rough-Winged Swallow (5); Barn Swallow (30); Blue Jay (11); Black-Capped Chickadee (39); Tufted Titmouse (2); Red-Breasted Nuthatch (1); White-Breasted Nuthatch (6); Veery (9); Hermit Thrush (6); Wood Thrush (6); A. Robin (86: everywhere, with many newly fledged birds); Gray Catbird (38); Cedar Waxwing (8); Blue-Headed Vireo (5); Warbling Vireo (5); Red-Eyed Vireo (25);
WARBLERS: Chestnut-Sided (7); Black-Throated Blue (2); Yellow-Rumped (11); Black-Throated Green (2); Blackburnian (2); Pine (16); A. Redstart (1); Ovenbird (2); C. Yellowthroat (19);
Scarlet Tanager (5); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (6); Indigo Bunting (2); E. Towhee (8); Chipping Sparow (18); Song Sparrow (16); Red-Winged Blackbird (6); C. Grackle (11); Brown-Headed Cowbird (10); Purple Finch (1); A. Goldfinch (11); Evening Grosbeak (1 overhead).

Though it was a bad day for butterflies, we did see a Spicebush Swallowtail. Also seen: shrew sp.; Am. Toad; Red-Backed Salamander; Green Frog; many teneral odonates and many Ebony Jewelwings. Among the wildflowers noted were: Wild Sasparilla; Yellow Wood Sorel (abundant); Yarrow (common); Bush Honeysuckle (very common); Whorled Loosestrife (common); Purple Loosestrife; Heal-All (very common); Pointed Leaved Tick-Trefoil (common); and a few patches of Indian Pipe. Almost all the Mountain Laurel is now past blooming. Fungi are really starting to pop through the forest floor. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/15/00 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling

Birds seen at Sterling Peat late this afternoon included: Pied-Billed Grebe (2); Great Blue Heron (1); Green Heron (3); Canada Goose (22); Mallard (24); Killdeer (37); Semipalmated Plover (2); Solitary Sandpiper (1); Spotted Sandpiper (7); Least Sandpiper (16); Tree Swallow (60+); Bank Swallow (15+); Barn Swallow (10+). The reason for the low water (attractive to shorebirds) is that there are TWO Beaver dams at the north end blocking the feeder stream. As this is Fish and Wildlife property, they may decide to destroy the dams. Flowers seen included Common Skullcap; Steeplebush and the very poisonous Water Hemlock. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/14/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

HIghlights this morning: Viriginia Rail (1); Sora (1); Willow Flycatcher (1); Eastern Bluebird (1); Wood Thrush (4); Yellow Warbler (1); Common Yellowthroat (5); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1). (report from John Liller).

7/11/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

HIghlights this morning: SORA (2); Eastern Wood-Pewee (4); Willow Flycatcher (2); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); Carolina Wren (1); Hermit Thrush (1); Wood Thrush (9); Blue-winged Warbler (1); Yellow Warbler (2); Prairie Warbler (1); Black-and-white Warbler (1); Common Yellowthroat (14 - pair feeding TWO cowbirds); Scarlet Tanager (5); Brown-headed Cowbird (10 - see Common Yellowthroat); Baltimore Oriole (6).
Also: Snapping Turtle (gargantuan), Red Fox, Chipmunk, Great Spangled Fritillary (1), Clouded Sulphur (3), Orange Sulphur (1), Cabbage White (1), Mourning Cloak (1), and lots of Wood Lillies. (report from John Liller).

7/10/00 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling

Shore bird habitat is appearing quickly at Sterling Peat. The water has dropped to a point where the pond is now split in two. In the past week I've seen Least and Solitary Sandpipers and Greater Yellowlegs. There are Green and Great Blue Herons. In the water are Pied-billed Grebe, Double-creasted Cormorant, 6 families of Canada Geese, 2 families of Mallards and a family of Wood Duck. On the hillside to the north and west are deer and along the black canvas fence to the east I surprised a baby skunk. When I realized what it was it was staring and hissing at me while slowly raising it's rear, I reversed direction quickly. (report from Bart Kamp).

7/8/00 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At 8:30 am I went to checkout the 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons that Rick Quimby reported on 7/7. I saw one immature shortly after I arrived and when I moved to the area where there are lots of Cattails, I saw one adult and 2 more immatures. There might have been 3 immatures there but one was partially hidden. It might have been a duck but I'm pretty sure I saw white spots on it's body. (report from Peter Morlock).

7/9/00 -- City of Worcester

We birded just a few of the ponds in the SW quadrant of the city this AM. Highlight totals included: Double-Crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (2); Green Heron (3); Black-Crowned Night Heron (4ad+1imm); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (58); "Domestic Greylag" (1: this bird still hangs out at Curtis with the Canadas); Wood Duck (13+4 ducklings); Mallard (159+4 ducklings); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); Virginia Rail (2); Killdeer (23); N. Flicker (9); E. Phoebe (1); Great Cested Flycatcher (2); E. Kingbird (8); Tree Swallow (4); N. Rough-Winged Swallow (4); Carolina Wren (5); Gray Catbird (22); Brown Thrasher (1); Warbling Vireo (6); Pine Warbler (1); C. Yellowthroat (4); Chipping Sparrow (19); Song Sparrow (29); Red-Winged Blackbird (37); C. Grackle (75+); Plus: Bullfrogs, Green Frogs and E. Painted Turtles. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/9/00 -- City of Worcester Landfill

Sheila and I did a post-breeding survey of the city's landfill. REMEMBER: this area is OFF LIMITS. Besides, these birds do not need birders looking for a "tick" trampling through their delicate breeding territory. Green Heron (2); Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Red-tailed Hawk (3); A. Kestrel (1m); (Note: I briefly spotted a large falcon whipping over the landfill as we were leaving. It looked like it COULD have been a Peregrine, but I did not get a good enough look to be sure); Killdeer (2); LEAST SANDPIPER (1 calling overhead); Ring-Billed Gull (5); Mourning Dove (16); Chimney Swift (3); N. Flicker (4); Willow Flycatcher (1); E. Kingbird (3); Tree Swallow (2); Bank Swallow (2); N. Rough-Winged Swallow (3); Barn Swallow (25); (Note: all the while we were counting on top of the hill, there were a few Barn Swallows present. Suddenly a good group of swallows descended and began to feed low over the grasses. This group also included the swifts); A. Crow (43: all of whom mobbed the poor beseiged Red-Taileds); A. Robin (15); Gray Catbird (7); N. Mockingbird (2); Warbling Vireo (3); C. Yellowthroat (3); N. Cardinal (2); E. Towhee (1); Chipping Sparrow (1); Savannah Sparrow (37: good count, Several birds were seen still carrying food); GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (4 SINGING birds); Song Sparrow (18); Red-Winged Blackbird (7); Bobolink (5: post-breeders I think); A. Goldfinch (10);
There was also a good show of butterflies with Black Swallowtail (1); Cabbage White (58); Clouded Sulphur (13); Orange Sulphur (7); A. Copper (3); Summer Azure (18); Red Admiral (2); C. Buckeye (1); Least Skipper (1); European Skipper (1).
ODONATE NOTE: There were also many, many odes cruising over the hill. One extremely common species was a very colorful medium sized dragonfly, orange-yellow in color of body and wings. The wings were also very patterned. Painted Skimmer? (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/8/00 -- High Ridge WMA, Westminster

I spent some time walking High Ridge WMA at the Westminster end beginning at the Overlook Road Entrnace yesterday morning. Some hilites amoung 56 species and 317 individuals seen and/or heard follow: GB Heron 3 (17 nests are now empty); Green heron 1; Great Horned Owl 3; Hairy Woodpecker 2; Yellow-B Sapsucker 1 ad male; Gr. Crested Flycatcher 3 (all chasing one another); E. Wood Peewee 4; Red-eyed Vireo 16 (2 feeding fledgling cowbirds); Blue-headed Vireo 1; Ovenbird 2 (only , none singing); Bobolink 11; Scarlet Tanager 5; Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4; Indigo Bunting 2.
The GH Owls were along a field edge , 1 flushed while the other 2 recently fledged young stayed behind. The bodies were free of down but they still had downy feathers on their heads. They were in a general area of a colony of 17 Great Blue heron nests. Most of the Herons were gone but a few times a GB would fly up and land on the edge of a nest (perhaps its old home), stare "blankly" into the nest and leave.
In 2 different areas I saw Red-eyed Vireos feeding feldgling Cowbirds , the young cowbirds have an annoying trill when begging for food.
I'd "guess" Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers don't nest much farther East in Mass. than this locale , with the exception of the Wachusett and Watatic Mountains areas. I did NOT find a nest but there has been summer residents at this locale for at least 4 to 5 years that I know of. (report from Tom Pirro).

7/7/00 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Birds seen at noon today included 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons (1 adult, 1 2nd year), and 6 Wood Ducks (1 ad f, with 5 young). (report from Rick Quimby).

7/6/00 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner

This evening I spent some time over looking the Smith Street Marsh at High Ridge WMA in gardner. Some of my favorites: Green Heron 1; Great Blue Heron 4; D.C. Cormorant 1 imm.; Wood Duck 5 - 10; Solitary Sandpiper 1; Am . Woodcock 3; Impid. Flycatcher (species?) 1; House Wren 6 including a noise family group; Indigo Bunting 2; B+W Wardbler 2; Cedar Waxwing several; Rose breasted grosbeak 2 (1 M 1 F); Balt. oriole 1. (report from Tom Pirro).

7/6/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

Highights this morning: Wild Turkey (3); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (2); House Wren (1); Eastern Bluebird (1); HERMIT THRUSH (1 - singing vigorously); Wood Thrush (2); Scarlet Tanager (5); Chipping Sparrow (2 - adult with immature); Field Sparrow (9 - including several immatures). Also: Tiger Swallowtail. (report from John Liller).

7/5/00 -- Ashburnham/Gardner

At Lower Naugkeg Lake Ashburnham there were at least 2 Common loons, 1 was seen (NO young present) another heard and I got a very quick glace of 4 birds flying over in poor light which MAY have been Loons as well. They were flying toward the area where I heard the plaintive call of the previously mentioned loon. There has been a territorial pair (some years I have seen 4 or 5 individuals at this time of year) at this locale for several years. The Mountain Laurel surrounding the lake was spectacular!
later at brief walk into the Smith street entrance to High Ridge WMA , in gardner , I saw and/or heard : Veery 2; Hermit Thrush 1; Am. Woodcock 1; Gr. Blue Heron 4; Wood Duck 7 at least; Hooded merganser 1 ad. Male.
... lastly at the Gardner Airport (actually in templeton) a Whip-poor-Will was calling.
and a belated report from last friday of 2 Evening Grosbeaks flying overhead near downtown Gardner. Perhaps some of your might recall at this time last year there were several reports of this species moving through out Central Mass.(and some from Eastern Mass. too) so keep an ear to the sky. (report from Tom Pirro).

7/4/00 -- Monson/Southwick/Sturbridge

We spent the morning hiking around the Trustees of Reservations Peaked Mountain property in Monson a literal stone's throw from the Connecticut border. This property was only acquired by the Trustees last year, but has been wonderfully managed for many years by the local famers and their families. It was their wishes and enthusiasm that made this area possible as a "saved" piece of land that can be enjoyed by all. This area consists of two small parcels. One, Peaked Mountain (a hill, really) which looks to have real possibilities as a hawkwatch spot with dynamic views. It is about a mile hike up to the top on good, not too steep, trails. Today as we were hiking to the summit, thunder threatened, so we continued to hike around the base. A bit further north of this, another set of trails goes through mixed forest around a nice wooded pond (odonate heaven). All of it is signed and has decent trail maps.

BIRD HIGHLIGHTS: Broad-Winged Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (1); Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (1); Red-Bellied Woodpecker (3); E. Wood Peewee (3); E. Phoebe (2); E. Kingbird (6); C. Raven (1); Red-Breasted Nuthatch (6); Brown Creeper (2); E. Bluebird (4); Veery (6); Hermit Thrush (3+2 newly fledged birds); Wood Thrush (6); Blue-Headed Vireo (3); Yellow-Throated Vireo (3); Red-Eyed Vireo (19);
WARBLERS: Blue-Winged (4); Yellow (4); Pine (8); Black-Throated Green (1); Yellow-Rumped (4); Blackburnian (3); Black and White (1); A. Redstart (3); Ovenbird (11); C. Yellowthroat (18);
Scarlet Tanager (7); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (6). Butterflies included N. Pearly-Eye, Eyed Brown, A. Copper, American Lady, Least Skipper.

Since we were "in the area", we headed over to Hudson Road in Southwick and found the Blue Grosbeak (1st S male) with little trouble at around noon. First it was perched up singing just to the left BEFORE the gate (facing the gate); then further in the sandpit area , still on the left side of the road but still visible from the gate, and finally it crossed the road and sand from some other hemlocks. It sang the entire time we were there. If you know the song and the bird is still there, you should have no problem with this one. Other birds in the area included: Turkey Vulture (2); A. Kestrel (1 carrying food); Killdeer (3); Bank Swallow (30+); Common Raven (1); Indigo Bunting (3+); Vesper Sparrow (2); Grasshopper Sparrow (1 singing and seen carrying food to the small fenced in weedy field. This bird was seen perched on the fence and the phone lines and sang a rather odd version of its song, one that ended in a series of jumbled notes). Butterflies just at this spot included Black Swallowtail, C. Buckeye, Great Spangled Fritillary and S. Cloudywing.

On the way home we stopped by Wells SP in Sturbridge to check up on the endangered and disjunct population of Black Rat Snakes there, and as usual had one nice long specimen hanging in the branches of his "home tree", looking very laid back and very cool. Also seen: Black-Throated Green Warbler, Hermit Thrush and Scarlet Tanager. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/4/00 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

Breeding Census Follow Up: I added the following birds to the Breeding Census of Rowley Hill: Bluebirds (nesting in a neighbors front yard, how lucky he is), cedar waxwing, and barred owl. Also S. Selkow reports white throated sparrows in Sterling , but just out of the Rowley Hill Section. The winter wren continues to sing beautifully from dawn to dusk. (report from Richard Spedding).

7/3/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

Highlights this morning: AMERICAN KESTREL (1 imm. male); SORA (1); Willow Flycatcher (2); Carolina Wren (1); Wood Thrush (1); Scarlet Tanager (3); Red-winged Blackbird (14 - including a young male); Baltimore Oriole (2).
Also: Cabbage White, Mourning Cloak, Eastern Garter Snake (2 on a tree stump), Eastern Chipmunk, Eastern Cottontail (report from John Liller).

7/2/00 -- Quinapauxet Reservoir, Holden

We did a survey (WITH PERMIT of course) of several of the trails into Quinapuaxet Reservoir. For those of you who do not know, this is the outermost reservoir of one of two chains of small reservoirs that serve the city of Worecster. The water has yet to be even started to be "drawn down", so it is quite full and it will be some time before shorebird habitat is found here. This area is off limits to birders not on official business and armed with a permit.

BIRDS: Canada Goose (17: all at the spillway, some even feeding on the second level of the spillway); A. Black Duck (2); Cooper's Hawk (1 imm); Spotted Sandpiper (1 wading uphill in the spillway and feeding); Mourning Dove (10); Black-Billed Cuckoo (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); owny Woodpecker (10); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N. Flicker (2); Pileated Woodpecker (2); E. Wood Peewee (12); Least Flycatycher (3); E. Phoebe (2); Great Crested Flycatcher (4); E. Kingbird (7); Tree Swallow (15); Bank Swallow (6); Barn Swallow (5); Blue Jay (4); A. Crow (4); Black-Capped Chickadee (11); Tufted Titmouse (18); Red-Breasted Nuthatch (1); White-Breasted Nuthatch (12); Brown Creeper (5); Winter Wren (1 singing); House Wren (7); E. Bluebird (2); Veery (19); Hermit Thrush (7); Wood Thrush (4); A. Robin (45); Gray Catbird (31); Cedar Waxwing (11); Blue-Headed Vireo (2); Warbling Vireo (2); Red-Eyed Vireo (35);
WARBLERS: Yellow (4); Chestnut-Sided (24); Black-Throated Blue (2); Yellow-Rumped (5); Black-Throated Green (10); Blackburnian (2); Pine (14); Black and White (2); Ovenbird (12); C. Yellowthroat (17);
Scarlet Tanager (16); N. Cardinal (1); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (8); E. Towhee (2); Chipping Sparrow (11); Song Sparrow (26); Baltimore Oriole (1); Red-Winged Blackbird (5); C. Grackle (2); Brown-Headed Cowbird (11); Purple Finch (6); A. Goldfinch (15).
ALSO SEEN: E. Painted Turtle; Wood Frog; Pickerel Frog; Green Frog; hundreds if not thousands of extremely tiny American Toads.(4 or 5 would fit on my thumb nail); Red Admiral; Tiger Swallowtail; Bush Honeysuckle; Whorled Loosestrife; and a large display of Mountain Laurel. (report from Mark Lynch).

For previous sightings, see June 2000 Archives or Archive Index