July 2002 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.

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7/31/02 -- Salisbury Pond, Worcester

D.C. Cormorants are one of the few birds found in Worcester County with blue eyes. This photo taken at Salisbury Pond in Worcester clearly illustrates how handsome they are. (photo by Bob Ricci).

7/30/02 -- Off Salisbury Street, Worcester

At 3:30PM an adult Cooper's Hawk was mantling a dead (obviously) Rock Dove in my back yard. Is this the same Coop that has spent late fall and winter at my house taking RoDos? If so, she's early.

The Cooper's Hawk fed for well over an hour, just next to a small lilac bush. She was always hyper-aware, and I had to watch very carefully. She was moulting some of her head feathers. By 5PM, I watched as she began to bizzarely (I thought) hop about with one talon in the pigeon carcass. I first thought her foot was stuck. She hopped here, waited, looked around, she hopped there, waited, looked around. Finally she hopped under the Rhodedendrons that separate my narrow and small yard from the neighbors longer, larger yard, still attached to the pigeon. She then had enough take off space to attempt to take the rest of the RoDo up into a tree, barely gaining 5 feet by the time she crossed the neighbor'd yard. And she was gone. (report from Mark Lynch).

7/30/02 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner

The following are hilites from a walk into High Ridge WMA from the Smith Street gate: American Bittern 1; Great Blue Heron 4; Solitary Sandpiper 1 or 2 calling; Wood Duck 2; Black-billed Cuckoo 1 calling at dusk; Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1. Also 1 doe with a spotted fawn was seen. (report from Tom Pirro).

7/29/02 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling

A quick early evening walk at Sterling Peat had the following: Great Blue Heron (2); Canada Goose (62); A. Black Duck (3); Virginia Rail (1); Killdeer (14); Least Sandpiper (10); Belted Kingfisher (1); "Traill's" type empid (1) likely a Willow, which breed here; E. Kingbird (7); Tree Swallow (10+); Bank Swallow (15+: 2 birds were watched still entering nesting holes: late); Cliff Swallow (1); Barn Swallow (15+); Red-winged Blackbird (80+); C. Grackle (45+). The water level is looking good for shorebirds etc. Lots of mid-summer blooms out too, including Joe-Pye Weed and Boneset. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/28/02 -- Seekonk River, Providence

A late afternoon trip to the Seekonk River, part of the Blackstone National Corridor, had the following in a very short stretch of very urban river: Double-crested Cormorant (89); Great Blue Heron (4); Great Egret (19: post breeding dispersal underway); Snowy Egret (6: ditto); Black-crowned Night Heron (8ad+4sub-ad+1imm: ditto); Green Heron (1); Mute Swan (14); Mallard (358: large groups of Mallards complete their moult along this short stretch of river); Osprey (3ad+ a pair with three young still in the nest, though one really looks practically fledged); Lesser Yellowlegs (1); Spotted Sandpiper (3); Least Sandpiper (116); Semipalmated Sandpiper (26); Laughing Gull (2 post breeding adults, starting to lose the black hood. Just starting to edge up into the Corridor from their breeding areas on the coast and extreme southern Naragansett Bay); Tree Swallow (27). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/28/02 -- Quinapoxet Reservoir, Holden

Sheila and I conducted a survey of Quinapoxet Reservoir along our standard route. Water levels, though dropping, are still fairly high (good for the Water Department and citizens). Birds were certainly in a post breeding but pre-migration mode. Song has dramatically dropped off with mostly vireos and peewees still singing. The day was muggy and very overcast. Great Blue Heron (11); Canada Goose (13: one flock); Mallard (1f with 7 almost fledged young); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (6); Solitary Sandpiper (2); Spotted Sandpiper (11); Least Sandpiper (2); Mourning Dove (19); Belted Kingfisher (3); Downy Woodpecker (8); Hairy Woodpecker (3); N. Flicker (7); E. Wood Peewee (17); E. Phoebe (7); E. Kingbird (6); Blue-headed Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (32); Blue Jay (29); A. Crow (27); Common Raven (1); Tree Swallow (23 migrating south); Barn Swallow (2); Black-capped Chickadee (68); Tufted Titmouse (21); White-breasted Nuthatch (14); Brown Creeper (4); Winter Wren (1 still singing); E. Bluebird (3); Hermit Thrush (9); Wood Thrush (4); A. Robin (52); Gray Catbird (28); Cedar Waxwing (13);

WARBLERS: TENNESSEE (1adult, not singing but seen well. I have NO idea what this bird was doing here at this point); Yellow (10 imm); Yellow-rumped (5); Black-throated Blue (3 singing males); Black-throated Green (6 singing males); Pine (7: a few singing); Black and White (4); A. Redstart (4); Northern Waterthrush (1); LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (1 still singing on territory. This is getting late for this species as it is a very early fall migrant); C. Yellowthroat (11);

Scarlet Tanager (8); E. Towhee (16); Chipping Sparrow (28); Song Sparrow (40); White-throated Sparrow (2); N. Cardinal (1); Indigo Bunting (1); Red-winged Blackbird (11); C. Grackle (3); Baltimore Oriole (3); A. Goldfinch (30).
PLUS: VERTS: (3) White-tailed Deer; (1) American Toad, Red Efts, E. Painted Turtle; (2) big and very pugnacious N. Banded Watersnakes that were sunning themselves. When I approached, they first froze and flattened themselves dramatically. As I got a bit closer, one struck quickly at my boots, but gave no ground.); E. Garter Snake (1 shed skin found next to the snake); LEPS included Black Swallowtail; Great Spangled Fritillary; American Copper and Pearl Crescent. BLOOMS included Indian Pipe and a nice patch of YELLOW/NORTHERN FALSE FOXGLOVE: this bizarre parasitic plants with large fleshy flowers are sen always close to certain species of oaks they live off. (report from Mark Lynch).

7/27/02 -- Salisbury Pond, Worcester

Highlights this morning were 3 Adult Black-crowned Night-Herons and 1 Great Egret. (report from Peter Morlock).

7/27/02 -- Sterling Meadow, West Boylston

Great Blue Herons are not immune to the Worcester area tight housing market as seen by these four Great Blue Herons at Sterling Meadow. (photo by Bob Ricci).

7/27/02 -- Gate 33, Quabbin Reservoir

A MAS class hike into Gate 33 (New Salem) Quabbin had the following: Highlites: Common Loon (4ad, 1 calling bird flew low right over us)); Double-crested Cormorant (1imm); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Wild Turkey (3); Killdeer (2); Spotted Sandpiper (3); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2); Pileated Woodpecker (2); E. Wood Peewee (7); E. Phoebe (5); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); E. Kingbird (13); Blue-headed Vireo (6); Red-eyed Vireo (39); TREE SWALLOW (193: all migrating high and north. These birds passed in front of the showers that came in from the south); Brown Creeper (5); Winter Wren (1); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2); Hermit Thrush (12); Wood Thrush (3);

WARBLERS: Yellow-rumped (22); Black-throated Blue (2); Black-throated Green (16); Blackburnian (1); Pine (12); Black and White (5); C. Yellowthroat (6);

Scarlet Tanager (14+1 imm still being fed); Swamp Sparrow (3); White-throated Sparrow (2); Purple Finch (5); Baltimore Oriole (2).

Bird song has dropped off considerably, though BT Greens are still singing as well as Yellow-rumps, Red-Eyed Vs et. Birds were in a definite post-breeding/pre fall migration phase and we came across several multi-species flocks moving through the forest. Some of these flocks had Pines, Yellow-rumps, Black and Whites, Chipping Sparrows, chickadees, finches, kingbirds and tanagers all in one group. Most of these birds were high in the trees and went unidentified, so the totals represent only a fraction of the birds present. We found and ID'd the feathers of Red-shouldered Hawk (inner primary); Wild Turkey (breast/contour); N. Saw-whet Owl (contour). For those of you not familiar with this gate: it is on Rt. 122, is about 1.5 miles to the shore of the reservoir along very level roads and has a good variety of habitats including a pond and several marshes. It's perfect for a morning's hike. Other highlites included: Porcupine, Muskrat, Red Efts galore, Fowler's Toads, Spring Peepers (3 picked up on the road); The only butterflies on this overcast day was an Eyed Brown and a Common Wood Nymph. Highlites of the flowering plants included Ladies Tresses, Spotted Wintergreen, and truly uncommon and rare, an AMERICAN CHESTNUT in flower.This was nicely pointed out to us by a member of the American Chestnut Society. These trees typically only get to a certain young age and then die from the blight. It is not common to see them in flower. Even though this tree was in bloom, it was already girdled by the blight. Along those lines, we also found one hemlock with WOOLY ADELGID. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/25/02 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

HIghlights this morning: Red-tailed Hawk (2); Sora (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Hairy Woodpecker (4); Northern Flicker (17); Eastern Wood-Pewee (8); Willow Flycatcher (2); Eastern Phoebe (2); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); Eastern Kingbird (11 - seem to be beginning to stage for migration); Red-eyed Vireo (4); Carolina Wren (3); Eastern Bluebird (2); Wood Thrush (5); Cedar Waxwing (4); Yellow Warbler (1); Black-and-white Warbler (1); Common Yellowthroat (10); Scarlet Tanager (4); Eastern Towhee (31 - including a pair tending to a young Cowbird); Field Sparrow (7); Swamp Sparrow (1); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (6); Brown-headed Cowbird (3); Baltimore Oriole (13). (report from John Liller).

7/24/02 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester

A quick "before work" tour of Leesville on this breezy, cool morning had: Double-crested Cormorant (2imm); Great Blue Heron (2); Black-crowned Night Heron (1imm/sub-ad); Wood Duck (20+3 ducklings); Mallard (27); Cooper's Hawk (1ad, mobbed by kingbirds); Warbling Vireo (5+ 1 newly fledged yng). Lots of small branches down from last night's storms. All the hemlocks are infested with Wooly Adelgid. (report from Mark Lynch).

7/22/02 -- Gate 35 (Tahanto Point), Wachusett Reservoir

Today at the Wachusetts Reservoir, Gate 35, Tahanto Point, there were 9 Great Egrets standing together. Probably a newly arrived flock of post breeders, blown in on today's strong South winds. They should disperse to other parts of the reservoir in the next few days. (report from Fran McMenemy).

7/20/02 -- Fisherville Pond/Northbridge filter beds

I returned to Fisherville and the Northbridge filter beds this evening (Saturday). I found that the water conditions were the same that I reported a week ago. At Fisherville there were 6 Killdeer, 3 Semipalmated Plovers, 10 Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper and 50+ Least Sandpipers. At the Northbridge filter beds there were 88 Killdeer, 19 Spotted Sandpipers, 4 Solitary Sandpipers, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs and 185 Least Sandpipers. (report from Bart Kamp).

7/19/02 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester

This afternoon there were 4 Great Egrets in the cove on the right near the cemetery entrance. There was also an immature Great Blue Heron in their company. At the far end of the cemetery in the cove next to the peninsula was a Black-Crowned Night Heron. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

7/17/02 -- All Faiths Cemetery/Leesville Pond, Worcester

In the cove on the right just before the entrance to the cemetery was a female Wood Duck with 5 young ones. At the penninsula at the far end of the cemetery was a female Wood Duck with 2 young ones.There were also numerous Mallards and Black Ducks with young ones. Mute Swans(2); Common Flicker(6); Green Heron(1); Cedar Waxwings(25); Swamp Sparrows(4); Great Blue Heron (2) immature, Red-tailed Hawk (1a). Also, at Worcester Medical Center (where I work 3rd shift) there has been a Mockingbird going through it's repertoire incessantly for the last few nights, sparking interest from the non birding co-workers outside on their coffee breaks. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

7/15/02 -- Lake Wompanoag, Gardner/Ashburnham

The evening of 7/15/02 I checked on the Common Loon Family on Lake Wompanaog on the Gardner/Ashburnham line. The "chick" now a month old appeared to be fairing well and about half the length of the adults, it made a few very brief dives. A bit further up the street at the Wompanoag MAS was a doe and 2 spotted fawns; once the doe noticed me she stamped here feet and grunted at me, then ran off with the fawns in "tow" once I moved. There were a few Blue Jays "mixing" it up a bit with an Eastern Kingbird -- it seemed to me the few Jays were acting similar to when "they" harrass a Sharp-shinned Hawk. While they did not appear to actively aggravate the Kingbird they would stay close by until the Kingbird would give chase...the jays would give off the "charactoristic" squawk when the Kingbird would get too close. The only time I've ever heard the Jays give this squawk is when closely pursued (aka nearly getting their tail feathers plucked) by a raptor (typically a "shin" but also the occassional Cooper's Hawk or Merlin) they are in the process of harrassing. (report from Tom Pirro).

7/14/02 -- Seekonk River, Providence RI/Grafton

Conducting some surveys along the Blackstone National Corridor Sunday, July 14, we had the following along the very urban Seekonk River between Providence and East Providence, from India Point to the Pawtucket River, c.1.5 miles: Double-crested Cormorant (70); Great Blue Heron (3); Great Egret (12); Green Heron (1ad); Black-crowned Night Heron (3ad+4 sub ad+ 4imm) (nota bene: the post breeding dispersal of night herons far up the Blackstone from their breeding islands in Naragansett Bay (far south of the Corridor) has begun and birds are now in the city of Worcester at Salisbury Pond and Leesville Pond); Mute Swan (12); Mallard (419: they gather on a short part of the Seekonk to moult); Killdeer (11); Spotted Sandpiper (3); Greater Yellowlegs (5); Least Sandpiper (7); [By and large, the Seekonk is not a good place for shorebirds.] FORSTER'S TERN (2); Some movement of swallows along the Seekonk was seen: Tree (70+); N. Rough-wing (6+); Bank (1).
Later at FISHERVILLE POND, in Grafton MA, a small pond on the Quinsigamond River, a tributary of the Blackstone, the water level had dropped, and so we found: Great Blue Heron (3); Killdeer (17); Solitary Sandpiper (1); Spotted Sandpiper (12); Least Sandpiper (13). Plus many, many turtles scooting through the muck of the draining pond, mostly E. Painted, but some good sized Snappers too. Inland Shorebirders: start checking those muddy edges!!!! (report from Mark Lynch).

7/13/02 -- Fisherville Pond (Grafton) & Northbridge filter beds

I checked out Fisherville Pond and the Northbridge filter beds Saturday afternoon. Fisherville Pond is empty with excellent mud flats. There were 3 Least Sandpipers, 6 Spotted Sandpipers and 12 Killdeer. The exterior construction on the new buildings at the Northbridge filterbeds appears to be complete. They are landscaping and preparing the roadways for paving. At least 10 of the filterbeds contain some water. There were 6 Least Sandpipers, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 14 Spotted Sandpipers and 58 Killdeer. (report from Bart Kamp).

7/13/02 -- Asnebumskit Hill Paxton/Holden

Today at the scenic outlook overlooking Kettlebrook Reservoir #4 at the intersection of rte. 122 and 56 there was a high flying Northern Harrier(m) presenting an array of different shapes while he was gliding and soaring, 2 Broad-winged Hawks, an adult and juvenile, 1 Turkey Vulture and 1 Red-tailed Hawk(a). Also 1 Great Blue Heron. On the way down the hill were a Blue Jay and 2 Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks doing battle, with the Grosbeaks making lots of noise. At the beaver pond we had good looks at a Scarlet Tanager, and saw an Adult female Mallard with 10 good sized young ones. (report from Brian Mulhearn).

7/11/02 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Highlights today at noon included 2 adult Black-crowned Night-Herons, and 1 Belted Kingfisher (f). The BCNH's have presumably just arrived after making their way up the Blackstone River corridor during post-breeding dispersal. (see Mark Lynch's previous posts). (report from Rick Quimby).

7/7/02 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton/Holden

Some hilites of a walk over and around the hill were: 2 COMMON RAVENS, (immature?) harassing a passing immature Red-tailed Hawk, 5 Purple Martins, an American Kestrel, 2 Great Blue Herons flying overhead, close-up looks at a pair of Scarlet Tanagers hawking insects, (there were loads of Tanagers, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles). Also we had a close look at an Ovenbird, and heard many more. We found an Eastern Towhee nest on the ground also. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

7/7/02 -- Quabog WMA, West Brookfield

This morning we hiked a few of the sections of this interesting WMA that includes some of the best cattail marsh in Worcester County (though most of it is outside the WMA) as well as decent tracts of mixed forest south of the river. The lighting throughout the morning was more than a bit eerie due to the James Bay forest fire smoke plume mentioned in a previous post. The interior of the forest was particularly dark and still because of it. The breeding season is entering it's final stages and we witnessed the first indication of fall swallow migration along the river. Wood Duck (3); Ruffed Grose (2: flushed right next to me deep in the interior gloom of the forest and almost gave me a heart attack); Virginia Rail (5); Chimney Swift (10+); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (5); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N. Flicker (1); E. Wood Peewee (10); Nota bene: no empids were heard/seen even though 3 species breed in these areas; E. Phoebe (5); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); E. Kingbird (4); Blue-headed Vireo (3); Yellow-throated Vireo (3); Warbling Vireo (5); Red-eyed Vireo (13); Blue Jay (7); Tree Swallow (40++); N. Rough-winged Swallow (10+); Bank Swallow (20++); Barn Swallow (60+ many young birds);

Note bene: swallows leave the interior of the state (at least Worcester County) much sooner than the coast or the Valley and are usually mostly gone by August. At this point, the young have fledged, and they seem to be staging. Most were over the marsh and seemed to be heading west along the river)

Black-capped Chickadee (37); Tufted Titmouse (3); Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); White-breasted Nuthatch (1); Winter Wren (3); MARSH WREN (7 still singing birds); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (4); Veery (24); Hermit Thrush (3); Wood Thrush (16); A. Robin (18); Gray Catbird (54); Brown Thrasher (2); Cedar Waxwing (12);

WARBLERS: Yellow (4); Chestnut-sided (2); Magnolia (1); Black-throated Green (4 singing males); Blackburnian (2 singing males); Pine (5); Black and White (1); A. Redstart (5); Ovenbird (8); C. Yellowthroat (44);

Scarlet Tanager (10ad+2 newly fledged young); E. Towhee (5ad+1 newly fledged young); Song Sparrow (7); Swamp Sparrow (28); N. Cardinal (6); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5); Red-winged Blackbird (90+); Baltimore Oriole (2ad with 3 newly fledged young); PINE SISKIN (1: this species has shown up in summer here before); A. Goldflinch (14);
We then headed over to the Great Blue Heron rookery in Warren that is right on the Mass Pike and still had 10 young in 7 nests and 3 adults in the same area. Most of the young have fledged. The day started strangely enough with a TENNESSEE WARBLER loudly singing outside our house. A refugee from James Bay? (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/3/02 -- Kettlebrook Reservoir #4, Paxton

We conducted one hot and humid count of Kettlebrook Reservoir #4 today as part of the BLACKSTONE WATERSHED. NOTA BENE: all Worcester Reservoirs are STRICTLY OFF LIMITS without written permits. This really rather small reservoir is a gem of preserved land, and like MDC property in the state, really shows the importance of these "saved" city DPW lands have to breeding birds and other animals. Great Blue Heron (4); Canada Goose (47: these are the bane of the reservoir folks); Mallard (2); Broad-winged Hawk (1: likely breeder); Spotted Sandpiper (3); Mourning Dove (1); Chimney Swift (1); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Downy Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (2ad+2 newly fledged and noisy young); N. Flicker (2); E. Wood Peewee (3); E. Phoebe (3); Red-eyed Vireo (10); Blue Jay (8); A. Crow (4); Black-capped Chickadee (14); Tufted Titmouse (6); House Wren (1); Veery (8); Wood Thrush (4); A. Robin (4); Gray Catbird (7); Cedar Waxing (6);

WARBLERS: Chestnut-sided (15); Yellow-rumped (1); Black-throated Green (1); Pine (4); Black and White (3); Ovenbird (7); C. Yellowthroat (21);

Scarlet Tanager (4); E. Towhee (1); Chipping Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (19); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (4); Indigo Bunting (1); Red-winged Blackbird (2); Brown-headed Cowbird (3); Baltimore Oriole (5); Purple Finch (1); Hosue Finch (2); A. Goldfinch (4); WILDFLOWERS included: Mountain Laurel still in bloom; a huge area of Spreading Dogbane on the dike. This plant is a favorite nectaring source for many skippers. Whorled Loosestrife; Tall Meadowrue; Filed Daisy; Yarrow. ODES included: Green Darner; Widow Skimmer and the really beautiful 12-Spotted Skimmer. LEPS: butterflies wree just coming out when we were there so we only had Pearl Crescent and European Skipper. VERTS; included hundreds of changing Green Frogs, White -tailed Deer and the sighitng of the day: a huge, gallomphing FISHER that lumbered across the road offering great views! On the big downside, we also found the first sign of WOOLY ADELGID infestation. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/3/02 -- Worcester Airport Fields

After surveying Kettlebrook Reservoir #4, we did a quick, from-the-road survey of the area between the back of Worcester Airport and Rt. 56. This small area of woodlots and fields offers some of the best grassland habitat in the entire Blackstone National Corridor and watershed. I believe no one has done a complete survey of the total population of grassland birds here (you would need permits from the airport and Worcester DPW) but I think we will work on this next year. Chimney Swift (4); Least Flycatcher (2); ALDER FLYCATCHER (2: the most regular spot for this species in the entire Corridor!); E. Phoebe (3); E. Kingbird (5); Red-eyed Vireo (4); Tree Swallow (17); Veery (3); Wood Thrush (2); Gray Catbird (16); Cedar Waxwing (3); Chestnut-sided Warbler (12); Pine Warbler (1); Black and White Warbler (2); Ovenbird (3); C. Yellowthroat (13); E. Towhee (4); Chipping Sparrow (3); Field Sparrow (3); SAVANNAH SPARROW (27: the actual population of this species in the fields in this area must be huge, and represents the best population of this specie sin the entire Corridor); Song Sparrow (16); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5); Indigo Bunting (3); Bobolink (11); E. Meadowlark (3); Red-winged Blackbird (13); A. Goldfinch (14). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carrol).

7/2/02 -- downtown Worcester

At 6:00 AM this morning there was a 1st year juvenile Red-tailed Hawk and an adult flying and perching between the garage on Worcester Center Boulevard and the old Fallon Clinic building across from Worcester Medical Center. The juvenile was mobbed by crows but they left the adult alone. Eventually the adult flew to the juvenile and the crows dispersed.(report from Brian Mulhearn)

For previous sightings, see June 2002 Archives or Archive Index