July 2012 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:

7/30/12 -- Barre
Following up on Mark and Sheila's report [7/22], I went to the Barre transfer station around 6:30 this morning to look for the Black Vultures. It was supposed to be closed, but someone was working in there and the vultures were gone. I found them perched in some dead trees on Vernon Ave about a tenth of a mile away. There were 40+ Turkey Vultures and 2 BLACK VULTURES. At one point one of the birds was kind enough to stretch his wings and show me his "white gloves." Here is a picture taken through the fog. (report from Alan Marble).

7/29/12 -- Quabbin Park/South Quabbin Reservoir
This morning we birded QUABBIN PARK/SOUTH QUABBIN in Ware and Belchertown. This is the southern section of Quabbin accessible by three roads off Rt. 9. We also birded the state trout hatchery and the nearby Wildlife Management Area.
  • Birds recorded: Common Loon (1ad); Double-crested Cormorant (1imm); Great Blue Heron (6); Canada Goose (7); Wood Duck (7); Bald Eagle (2ad); Sharp-shinned Hawk (3 just fledged young birds. These birds could just barely fly and fly short distances from tree to tree following each other screaming constantly. They took no notice of us and Sheila got some nice shots.); Cooper's Hawk (1ad); Killdeer (19 at the State trout hatchery); Ring-billed Gull (18); Mourning Dove (7); Barred Owl (1); Belted Kingfisher (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (5); N Flicker (2); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (7); E Phoebe (3); E Kingbird (15); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Blue-headed Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (31); Blue Jay (9); A Crow (24); C Raven (1); Tree Swallow (2); Bank Swallow (2); Barn Swallow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (21); Tufted Titmouse (2); Red-breasted Nuthatch (1); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); E Bluebird (2); Veery (9); Hermit Thrush (7); A Robin (16); Gray Catbird (9: pair seen carrying food to nest); Cedar Waxwing (15: pair seen gathering materials for nest);
      WARBLERS: Chestnut-sided (1imm); Yellow-rumped (1 still singing); Blackburnian (1 still singing); Black and White (1); A Redstart (3); Ovenbird (3: 1 ad followed closely by 2 begging just fledged yg); C Yellowthroat (3);
    Scarlet Tanager (1); E Towhee (16); Chipping Sparrow (14); Song Sparrow (7); Swamp Sparrow (3); N Cardinal (3); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2); Indigo Bunting (2); Red-winged Blackbird (7); House Finch (4); A Goldfinch (13)
  • Plus: (1); Coyote crossing the road in Quabbin.
  • On the way home we made a brief stop at Lake Quabog: Great Blue Heron (1); Great Egret (1); Mallard (11); Ring-billed Gull (23); Tree Swallow (10+); Bank Swallow (3); Barn Swallow (30+)
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 7/28/12 -- Berlin
    Today, we spent the entire morning birding in BERLIN. We visited several conservation properties like Garfield Woods along North Brook. Bird song has dropped off dramatically and now consists mostly of the "persistent" singers like peewee and the vireos. Green Heron (1: I have seen very few of these anywhere in the state this year); Canada Goose (4); Cooper's Hawk (1); Red-shouldered hawk (2imm: just fledged and screaming constantly); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Virginia Rail (1); Ring-billed Gull (1); Mourning Dove (22); Chimney Swift (3); Belted Kingfisher (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (5); Hairy Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (3); E Wood Peewee (9); Willow Flycatcher (4: still singing); E Phoebe (4); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); E Kingbird (13); Warbling Vireo (2); Red-eyed Vireo (3); Blue Jay (11); American Crow (10); Barn Swallow (61); Black-capped Chickadee (36); Tufted Titmouse (18); White-breasted Nuthatch (7); Carolina Wren (1); E Bluebird (1); American Robin (61); Gray Catbird (17); Cedar Waxwing (6); Yellow Warbler (9); Pine Warbler (3); C Yellowthroat (14); Chipping Sparrow (33); Savannah Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (38); N Cardinal (38); Bobolink (5); Red-winged Blackbird (9); C Grackle (8); American Goldfinch (29). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    7/22/12 -- Leicester
    Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club and Massachusetts Butterfly Club joint field trip included: Broad-winged Hawk; American Kestrel; Black-billed Cuckoo; Eastern Wood-Pewee; Eastern Phoebe; Great Crested Flycatcher; Red-eyed Vireo; Eastern Bluebird; Veery; Cedar Waxwing; Common Yellowthroat; American Redstart; Eastern Towhee; Savannah Sparrow; Scarlet Tanager; Indigo Bunting; Eastern Meadowlark. Here is the complete trip list (including butterflies). (trip report from Dolores Price).

    7/22/12 -- Barre
    We spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon birding only in BARRE. We had the following totals:
  • Black Vulture (2); Turkey Vulture (68: the Barre transfer station at dawn. NB: the birds leave this site early on. Sheila got some nice shots); Canada Goose (26 adults+6 goslings); Broad-winged Hawk (7: we watched one bird as it sat on a phone line in a residential location, staring down at a small patch of long grass and weeds strewn with toys. Suddenly it flew down and came back up to the top of the phone pole with a still squirming White-footed Mouse); Wild Turkey (1ad+ 5 very young poults); Virginia Rail (2); Chimney Swift (3); Belted Kingfisher (2); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (8); Downy Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (2); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (3); E Phoebe (4); E Kingbird (11); Blue-headed Vireo (6); Red-eyed Vireo (71); Blue Jay (13); A Crow (11); C Raven (2); Tree Swallow (9); Barn Swallow (37); Black-capped Chickadee (74); Tufted Titmouse (18); Red-breasted Nuthatch (16); White-breasted Nuthatch (19); Brown Creeper (5); Winter Wren (2); Veery (2); Hermit Thrush (15); A Robin (41); Gray Catbird (16); Cedar Waxwing (11);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); Black-throated Blue (14); Yellow-rumped (5); Black-throated Green (24); Pine (9); Black and White (2); Ovenbird (1: mid-summer quiet period for this species); C Yellowthroat (5);
    Scarlet Tanager (16); E Towhee (7); Chipping Sparrow (35); Song Sparrow (13); Swamp Sparrow (4); Dark-eyed Junco (1); N Cardinal (19); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Indigo Bunting (5); Red-winged Blackbird (20+); C Grackle (6); A Goldfinch (12)
  • Plus: blooms included Pinesap and Cardinal Flower; butterflies included Mulberrywing and a good count of Red-spotted Purple/White Admirals.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 7/21/12 -- Lake Chauncy, Westboro
    Well walking around Lake Chauncy in Westboro this morning I sighted three Double Crested Cormorants in a tree. (report and photo from Henry Squillante).

    7/20/12 -- Hubbardston/Westminster
    Common Loons were found on the following bodies of water late this afternoon: Also at Sterling Peat there were: Killdeer 12; Least Sandpiper 13.  (report from Tom Pirro).

    7/19/12 -- Leominster
    Today I found Common Loons had successfully bred on two bodies of water in Leominster:  
  • Notown Reservoir:    2 adult and 1 chick  
  • Haynes Resevoir:     2 adults and 1 chick (the Haynes youngster was noticably smaller than the one on Notown )  
    A few long distant photos are on my blog. (report from Tom Pirro).

    • 7/19/12 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    Highlights today included 2 Killdeer and 1 Spotted Sandpiper. Yesterday (7/18), I had the first fall migrants, 3 Least Sandpipers. (report from Rick Quimby).

    7/15/12 -- Wachusett Reservoir
    The highlight of the annual summer Forbush Bird Club trip to the reservoir was observing the recently fledged Common Loons. Fran McMenemy had always closely monitored these birds since their re-establishment as a breeding species in the state many years ago. This year, we had great views of a pair with two young just off Wood Island. We watched as the adults fed the downy chicks small fish and crayfish. We also found another pair with two chicks on the North East side of the reservoir in the vicinity of Gate 4. Also had nice looks at recently fledged and jumpy Spotted Sandpipers on Wood Island. Many species of odes were out including large numbers of Calico Pennants. Here is the complete trip list. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    7/15/12 -- Douglas-Webster
    Today we birded some towns in southern Worcester County. Here are the combined results for DOUGLAS and adjacent WEBSTER: Great Blue Heron (7); Turkey Vulture (3); Canada Goose (8); Wood Duck (1f w/6yg plus 2 other young birds); Mallard (6); Osprey (1); Virginia Rail (5: Webster only); Killdeer (1); Mourning Dove (105); Chimney Swift (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); Downy Woodpecker (5); Hairy Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (8); E Wood Peewee (3); E Phoebe (6); E Kingbird (19); Yellow-throated Vireo (4); Warbling Vireo (24); Red-eyed Vireo (88); Blue Jay (15); A Crow (18); Barn Swallow (39); Black-capped Chickadee (55); Tufted Titmouse (39); White-breasted Nuthatch (11); Carolina Wren (6); House Wren (21); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1); Veery (5); Wood Thrush (4); A Robin (135+); Gray Catbird (48); N Mockingbird (3); Cedar Waxwing (9); Scarlet Tanager (5); E Towhee (14); Chipping Sparrow (36); Song Sparrow (36); Swamp Sparrow (4); N Cardinal (36); Red-winged Blackbird (59); C Grackle (31); House Finch (4); A Goldfinch (26)
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    7/14/12 -- Rice City Pond, Uxbridge
    A Great Egret was in Rice City Pond on Hartford Avenue this morning. (report from Beth Milke)

    7/12/12 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    I went to Sterling Peat today to check the water conditions. The water was down since my last visit. Without rain in about a week the water on the west side should be lower than the water on the east side. There were the usual Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers plus 1 Least Sandpiper at the mud bar. (report from Bart Kamp).

    7/9/12 -- Paxton
    A Bobwhite has been calling in our yard, as recently as today. It likes to sit on the fence of our sheep pen, but has recently moved over to a neighboring field. (report from Sara Root Simone, fide John Root).

    7/8/12 -- Westborough
    I had the most awesome experience this weekend while walking a trail with a friend in the Cedar Hill Swamp area in Westborough; I heard a Veery calling and it was so close the bird's call sounded very raspy. The Veery had a worm in its mouth and called on a tree limb about three feet off the trail. I didn't take a photo at this point -- I was too mesmerized. After a few minutes the bird disappeared into the woods. I could hear it way off in the distance still calling Veer! After proceeding about 6 feet up the trail, the Veery was back and on the opposite side of the trail. It stayed again within three to four feet off the trail and kept calling Veer! all the while the bird faced my direction. Photo op. After what seemed a long time the bird flew off. I proceeded down the trail about 400 feet. The Veery came back again but it faced a different direction. Still very close and calling Veer! I told the bird that I thought of a dear friend to many (Fran) whenever I heard a Veery call because it was his favorite bird and said that we all miss him. With that said the bird disappeared so quickly I didn't see where it went. I took a lot of photos but will share my two favorites: front and back. (report from Joan Gallagher).

    7/4/12 -- Quabbin Park, Quabbin Reservoir
    This morning we birded QUABBIN PARK, the southern part of Quabbin just off Rt. 9 in Belchertown. Nothing unusual was noted but we did have modest- low numbers of many species overall.
  • Birds recorded: Common Loon (1ad); Great Blue Heron (3); Turkey Vulture (5: nb: in WARE, on the way home, we had 3 more Turkey Vultures and 3 BLACK VULTURES. They took off from somewhere in town, and we initially saw them quite low. They gained altitude and headed towards Colonel's Mountain on the border of Ware and Warren. Wood Duck (1 f/w12 ducklings; 6 yg birds a few weeks further along than the ducklings and 3males); Wild Turkey (4); Virginia Rail (1); Killdeer (9 at the State trout farm); Ring-billed Gull (8); Mourning Dove (4); Chimney Swift (1); Belted Kingfisher (2); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (4); Downy Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N Flicker (1); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood-peewee (4); Least Flycatcher (6); E Phoebe (6); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); E Kingbird (3); Yellow-throated Vireo (3); Warbling Vireo (4); Red-eyed Vireo (52); Blue Jay (5); A Crow (12); C Raven (1); Tree Swallow (31: many yg birds just fledged); Barn Swallow (10+); Black-capped Chickadee (11); Tufted Titmouse (4); Red-breasted Nuthatch (3); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); Brown Creeper (1); Carolina Wren (1: an uncommon bird anywhere IN Quabbin); House Wren (2); E Bluebird (6); Veery (23); Hermit Thrush (7); Wood Thrush (6); A Robin (16); Gray Catbird (31); Northern Mockingbird (1: at headquarters building. Sheila got some fun shots of it perched and singing atop the faux coyote); E Starling (15+); Cedar Waxwing (9);
      WARBLERS: Chestnut-sided (14); Yellow-rumped (1); Pine (18); Prairie (3); Black and White (4); A Redstart (12); Ovenbird (11); C Yellowthroat (15);
    Scarlet Tanager (6); E Towhee (28); Chipping Sparrow (36); Song Sparrow (12); N Cardinal (2); Red-winged Blackbird (35+); C Grackle (32); Brown-headed Cowbird (6); A Goldfinch (9);
  • Plus: 11 species of butterflies, the most common being Dun Skippers; and a nice show of flowering SPOTTED WINTERGREEN.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 7/3/12 -- Downtown Worcester
    The juvenile Peregrine Falcons remain in downtown Worcester around the areas of Main Street and Front Street, where they fly from place to place squacking so loud that even the general public is now looking to the sky wondering what all the racket is. I was on my way for coffee this morning and saw one head toward the top of the 446 Main Street building, so I went up there and was thrilled to see two of the juveniles, who appeared to be eating leftovers and drinking water from a nearby puddle. I was able to get some pretty decent pictures and will post them on my blog later this evening. (report from Kim Allen).

    7/2/12 -- Hardwick
    I observed a Chestnut sided warbler feeding a juvenile Cowbird. Additionally, 2 juvenile Kestrels have been observed at Mandell Hill in Hardwick. This is the first year that 2 separate nesting boxes 1/2 mile apart have produced fledglings. (report from Jeff Smith).

    7/1/12 -- Southbridge
    We spent Sunday morning birding several locations in the town of SOUTHBRIDGE. At first glance, this town appears very built up with few opportunities to have a good day birding. But we got to know many of the best birding spots and productive areas for breeding birds by atlasing several blocks in the town, which forced us to poke into every nook and cranny in the area. Much of this town is also located in the Sturbridge CBC circle. Last year's powerful tornado plowed right across Southbridge and the damage is very much still in evidence and people are still repairing homes. During the breeding season this area is under-covered. We visited spots that included all around the airport and nearby landfill; the Westville Dam Park; Opacum Land Trust properties and we even birded the old American Optical business park along the Quinnebaug River. This last location is best visited on Sundays when the businesses are closed. There were quite a number of other productive spots we passed on as the day soon wore on and the heat and humidity rose and song dropped off.
  • Birds recorded: LEAST BITTERN (1 calling from extensive cattail marsh. This is the third time we have recorded this species in Southbridge); Great Blue Heron (2); Turkey Vulture (3); Wood Duck (1f w/8 just hatched ducklings; 1f w/ 3older yg; 4 drakes); Cooper's Hawk (1ad: while at Westville Dam a Coop flew overhead with some species of bird in its talons, mobbed intensely by 2 Eastern Kingbirds. The Coop called frequently, the call that sounds a bit like a moorhen call. It made a beeline for a forest lot and disappeared.); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Virginia Rail (2); Killdeer (1); Mourning Dove (30); Black-billed Cuckoo (2); Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1); Chimney Swift (31); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); Downy Woodpecker (6); Hairy Woodpecker (1f attending yg in nesthole+4 other birds); N Flicker (4); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood-Peewee (1); Willow Flycatcher (4+2 just fledged yg); Least Flycatcher (3); E Phoebe (9); E Kingbird (17); Yellow-throated Vireo (5); Warbling Vireo (13); Red-eyed Vireo (16); Blue Jay (14); A Crow (13); Tree Swallow (11); N Rough-winged Swallow (6); Bank Swallow (4: nb: we did NOT visit a large Bank Swallow colony that we found during the atlas); Barn Swallow (32); Black-capped Chickadee (28); Tufted Titmouse (26); Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); White-breasted Nuthatch (9); Carolina Wren (3); House Wren (10); E Bluebird (12); Veery (36); Wood Thrush (3); A Robin (91); Gray Catbird (75); N Mockingbird (11); Cedar Waxwing (3);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (2); Yellow (41); Chestnut-sided (2); Pine (9); Prairie (3); A Redstart (2); Ovenbird (10); Northern Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (42); Canada (1);
    Scarlet Tanager (1); E Towhee (11); Chipping Sparrow (13); Field Sparrow (3); Savannah Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (31); Swamp Sparrow (9); N Cardinal (8); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (6); Indigo Bunting (14); Bobolink (12); Red-winged Blackbird (56); C Grackle (65); Brown-headed Cowbird (2); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (17);
  • PLUS: without really trying, we saw 15 species of butterflies including American Lady and Little Glassywing.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 7/1/12 -- Westborough/Northborough
    I stopped in at the Lyman St. fields to look for the kestrels late in the day. I found all three, male, female and juvenile. The adults keep their distance with the male being the least cooperative. The juvenile has yet to learn to be concerned.
  • Here is the first and second photo of the juvie
  • A bluebird has a close by nest box. She continues the feeding, but again the male stays away until you keep your distance.
  • Here are 3 insect photos from earlier in the day.
    (report from Garry Kessler).

    • For previous sightings, see June 2012 Archives or Archive Index