July 2013 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

Bird Sightings:

7/28/13 -- Bolton Flats and Oxbow NWR, Bolton/Harvard

Today we birded BOLTON FLATS and OXBOW NWR. We wanted to do the "Flats" on foot to see what the access was, what the condition of the trails were, and to augment the several reports from kayak. The main path into Bolton Flats, off Rt. 117, is now VERY overgrown with weeds and grasses, some of it well up to my chest. This makes visibility a real issue. No corn has been planted in the fields to the left (as you walk out), so it is now one large dense weedy field. There is still some water at the "T", but it is only an inch or two. If a path is not mown soon, the fall sparrow migration will be great for the sparrows, but very tough going and frustrating for the birder. Unlike Bolton Flats, the trails in Oxbow are great and it was a popular spot for walkers and runners later Sunday morning. I have combined the lists for the two locations.

Great Blue Heron (2); Wood Duck (10); Mallard (3); Killdeer (1 at Flats overhead); Solitary Sandpiper (1 overhead at the Flats); Mourning Dove (53 in huge flock at the Flats, 6 at Oxbow); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (4); Hairy Woodpecker (4); N Flicker (7); E Wood Peewee (2); Alder Flycatcher (2); Willow Flycatcher (8); E Phoebe (5); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); E Kingbird (11); Yellow-throated Vireo (3); Warbling Vireo (4); Red-eyed Vireo (9+1 feeding a young cowbird at Oxbow); Tree Swallow (260++: large flocks flying low and feeding for a bit but then always heading west); Bank Swallow (8); Cliff Swallow (1); Barn Swallow (31); Brown Creeper (1 at Oxbow); Carolina Wren (2); House Wren (3); Marsh Wren (2: heard from trail at the Flats; 1 seen and heard in the cattail area in what has been a cornfield); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (3); E Bluebird (6); Veery (1); Gray Catbird (48); Brown Thrasher (3 at Oxbow); Cedar Waxwing (7+1 just fledged bird); Yellow Warbler (13); Pine Warbler (4); A Redstart (3); Ovenbird (1); C Yellowthroat (8); E Towhee (1); Song Sparrow (43); Swamp Sparrow (20); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5); Bobolink (16 overhead); Red-winged Blackbird (65+); Baltimore Oriole (1);

PLUS: A short tailed Weasel ran almost over my feet at the Flats; Oxbow featured large Banded Watersnakes and a long RIBBON SNAKE and many Bullfrogs and Eastern painted Turtles.

NB: We started the day at STERLING PEAT, Highlights included (4); Great Blue Herons; (1); Green Heron and a female Wood Duck with 5 young. The small pool near the small dirt hill that has hosted (in previous years); shorebirds and egrets, is now very much a part of the main body of the water, and the water level high. So unless we have a drought between now and September, shorebirds will be tough here. But keep checking!
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/28/13 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester

Here are two photos of the Swan family at Leesville Pond, taken on May 18. There were six cygnets in these photos. Since I live in this area and check it frequently, I may have seen the original number, before other birders started monitoring this family. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

7/25/13 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester

This is a picture of my husband's cousin Gail who works at POBCO on Leesville Pond. She helped in the rescue of the injured cygnet. Unfortunately, she noticed there were only 4 cygnets today and not 5, the original number. This may indicate that the injured swan that was returned from Tufts has not survived after all. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

7/25/13 -- Notre Dame Cemetary, Worcester

Today I found 4 Black-crowned Night Herons at Notre Dame cemetery. (report from Peter Morlock).

7/22/13 -- Leesville Pond, All Faith's Cemetery, Auburn/Worcester

Good news. We are happy to report that the wounded signet at Leesville Pond was returned to be with his family on Sunday, July 21st. He looked really good after his stay at Tufts Wildlife Clinic and the scope that was done on Friday, didn't show any signs of the fishing line being in his system. A huge thanks is extended to everyone who helped saved our wounded swan. (report from Joan Crowell).

7/20/13 -- Westminster/Hubbardston

I check three local lakes for breeding Common Loons on 7/20, with the following results:

Wachusett Lake: 2 adult and 0 young

Bickford Pond (Hubbardston): 1 adult 2 young ~perhaps about weeks old

Mare Meadow Res. (Westminster): 2 adults and 2 young , the young were about 70% molted out of their down into Juv. plumage. I suspect these guys hatched mid-June. Also, this may be the first successful nesting of loons on Mare Meadow.
(report from Tom Pirro).

7/20/13 -- South Quabbin Reservoir

Today we birded QUABBIN PARK and made 2 brief stops at the adjacent Herman Covey WMA with an even briefer stop at the state trout hatchery. Please see my recent where-to-find article in Bird Observer for complete directions.

Highlights: Common Loon (4ad); Great Blue Heron (2); Canada Goose (6); Wood Duck (1f); Mallard (2); Bald Eagle (2ad); Wild Turkey (4); Killdeer (9); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Least Sandpiper (2); Black-billed Cuckoo (1); Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (5); Alder Flycatcher (2); E Phoebe (12); E Kingbird (3); Yellow-throated Vireo (5); Blue-headed Vireo (4); Warbling Vireo (7); Red-eyed Vireo (51); Tree Swallow (8); N Rough-winged Swallow (1); Bank Swallow (6); Barn Swallow (38); House Wren (3); Winter Wren (1: singing bird); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (5); E Bluebird (2); Veery (4); Wood Thrush (1); Gray Catbird (30); Brown Thrasher (1); Cedar Waxwing (6); Yellow Warbler (1); Chestnut-sided Warbler (3); Black-throated Blue Warbler 91); Pine Warbler (11); Ovenbird (2); C Yellowthroat (11); Scarlet Tanager (8); E Towhee (31); Field Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (16); Swamp Sparrow (8: Covey WMA); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (4); Indigo Bunting (7); Purple Finch (1);

Plus: many Pearl Crescents and Common Wood Nymphs.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/17/13 -- Worcester State University, Worcester

I found a perched Red-tailed Hawk perched in a tree. Here is a photo . Later at All Faiths Cemetery, I walked onto the peninsula at the back of the cemetery, and 2 Green Herons flew out, one behind the other. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

7/14/13 -- Wachusett Reservoir

The Forbush Bird Club trip to Wachusett Reservoir included a hike into Gate 35 to Wood Island and Prescott cove, Gate 39, and South Bay. Highlights of these trips were locating and observing the recently fledged Common Loons and Bald Eagles. Here is the complete trip list of the 55 species recorded. (report from Kevin Bourinot)

7/14/13 -- Leesville Pond, All Faith's Cemetery, Auburn/Worcester

If any birders have noticed that one of our cygnets is missing from our family of swans, he is at Tufts Wildlife Clinic. He swallowed a fishing line and he was given Metamucil. If all goes well, he will be released on Monday (7-15) and be back with his family. (report from Joan Crowell).

7/14/13 -- Ware River Watershed IBA, Barre

Today we birded some of the WARE RIVER WATERSHED IBA, concentrating on Prison Camp Road, Reuban Walker Road, Coldbrook Road and White Hall Road. Several areas north of the Prison Camp had been flooded via the dam at Barre Falls and the undergrowth has died. Full list below.

Great Blue Heron (2ad); Canada Goose (30+); Hooded Merganser (1f); Broad-winged Hawk (3); Wild Turkey (2 young birds, no sign of adults); Virginia Rail (3); Mourning Dove (5); Black-billed Cuckoo (7: unusually high number of this species. We even had 1 perched on powerlines. Sheila got some shots); Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1); Belted Kingfisher(1); Downy Woodpecker (4); N Flicker (2); E Wood Peewee (5); Alder Flycatcher (4); Willow Flycatcher (1); Least Flycatcher (8); E Phoebe (4); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); E Kingbird (4); Blue-headed Vireo (3); Warbling Vireo (3); Red-eyed Vireo (29: very low count. We have done counts at this time of the year that had 100+ Red-eyeds often.); Blue Jay (19); C Raven (1); Tree Swallow (6); Barn Swallow (20+: colony under Rt.122 bridge); Black-capped Chickadee (46); Tufted Titmouse (4); Red-breasted Nuthatch (11); White-breasted Nuthatch (6); Brown Creeper (2); House Wren (1); Winter Wren (2); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1); E Bluebird (7); Veery (36); Hermit Thrush (18); Wood Thrush (4); A Robin (21); Gray Catbird (43); Cedar Waxwing (16);

WARBLERS: Nashville (1); Yellow (13); Chestnut-sided (19); Black-throated Blue (1); Yellow-rumped (9); Black-throated Green (11); Pine (18); Black and White (3); A Redstart (2); Ovenbird (52);: 2 just fledged birds seen and photographed); C Yellowthroat (62); Canada (2);

Scarlet Tanager (15); E Towhee (45); Chipping Sparrow (9); Field Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (17); Swamp Sparrow (21); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (6); Indigo Bunting (5); Bobolink (2imm); Red-winged Blackbird (51); Baltimore Oriole (1); Purple Finch (5); A Goldfinch (6);

There was an amazing display of dragonflies that featured large numbers of Blue Dashers, Common White-tails, Spangled Skimmers, Slaty Skimmer, Eastern Pondhawk, Widow Skimmer and Halloween Pennant. Butterflies included several Appalachian Browns, Great Spangled Fritllary, Common Wood Nymphs, Mulberry Wing, Dun Skipper (most common butterfly by a wide margin);, Crossline Skipper. Sheila got shots of most of the species.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/13/13 -- Bolton Flats Rt 110, Lancaster

Today I saw 3 Glossy Ibises land in the field to the left. There were shorebirds flying in there also, but the Cattails were too high to see. (report from Peter Morlock).

7/12/13 -- Bolton Flats, Lancaster

This afternoon in the portion of Bolton Flats that is off Center Bridge Road in Lancaster there were: 15 Killdeer, 6 Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 31 Least Sandpipers and 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper. (report from Bart Kamp).

7/9/13 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Birds of note at noon were 1 Green Heron (ad), 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron (ad), many molting Mallards, 1 Killdeer, and 2 Least Sandpipers (fall migration has begun!). (report from Rick Quimby).

7/8/13 -- Downtown Worcester

One of the juvenile Peregrine Falcon's (I believe the male), was on top of the 446 Main Street Building a little after lunch today. Of course I forgot my camera but the bird was so close I was able to get some half way decent photos of it with my Droid. Heard both juves last week squacking around City Hall but this is the first time I've seen one of them on top of 446 Main this year. Write up and photos are on my blog. (report from Kim Allen).

7/8/13 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston

This morning at 7:30 AM we took Gate 30 to Wood Island and saw one adult loon with two chicks swimming together just north of Wood Island. (report from Richard Beaudreau/Beverley Renaud).

7/7/13 -- Ware River Watershed IBA, Rutland/Barre

Today we birded a small part of the WARE RIVER IBA: along the Rail Trail that runs northwest of Whitehall Road and then along Coldbrook Road from Rt. 122 north to Barre Falls Dam. Bird song has certainly dropped off.

Bird list: American Bittern (1); Mallard (1); Virginia Rail (1); Mourning Dove (8); Black-billed Cuckoo (1); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (1); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (6); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (11); Least Flycatcher (4); E Phoebe (7); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); E Kingbird (4); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Blue-headed Vireo (2); Red-eyed Vireo (32); Blue Jay (8); Black-capped Chickadee (33); Tufted Titmouse (1); RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (21); White-breasted Nuthatch (5); Brown Creeper (4); House Wren (1); Winter Wren (3); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Veery (37); Hermit Thrush (15); Wood Thrush (3); A Robin (26); Gray Catbird (17); Cedar Waxwing (10);

WARBLERS: Chestnut-sided (12); Black-throated Blue (3); Yellow-rumped (3); Black-throated Green (4); Blackburnian (2); Pine (28); Prairie (1); Black and White (7); A Redstart (2); Ovenbird (51); C Yellowthroat (44);

Scarlet Tanager (15); E Towhee (36); Chipping Sparrow (6); Song Sparrow (6); Swamp Sparrow (10); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5); Indigo Bunting (1); Red-winged Blackbird (38); C Grackle (9); Baltimore Oriole (1); Purple Finch (1); A Goldfinch (5)
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

7/7/13 -- Mt. Watatic, Ashburnham

Birds heard while hiking on Mt. Watatic Sunday include the following; the route was from the RTE119 parking area up the Wapac Trail and returning over Nutting Hill. Numbers were typical for this area, but noticeably absent was Blue-headed Vireo.

Mourning Dove 2; Downy Woodpecker 2; Hairy Woodpecker 2; Eastern Wood-Pewee 1; Red-eyed Vireo 6; Blue Jay 2; American Crow 2; Common Raven 1; Black-capped Chickadee 5; Tufted Titmouse 2; Red-breasted Nuthatch 1; Winter Wren 8; Golden-crowned Kinglet 2; Hermit Thrush 6; American Robin 2; Cedar Waxwing 2; Ovenbird 12; Black-and-white Warbler 2; Blackburnian Warbler 16; Black-throated Blue Warbler 3; Yellow-rumped Warbler 6; Black-throated Green Warbler 6; Eastern Towhee 2; Song Sparrow 1; Swamp Sparrow 1; Dark-eyed Junco 4; Scarlet Tanager 2; Common Grackle 1; Purple Finch 1.
(report from Tom Pirro).

7/1/13 -- Bolton Flats

This morning at Bolton Flats at 5:30 a.m. I took a photo of this Sora and also heard a couple of Marsh Wrens singing. (report from Alan Marble);.

For previous sightings, see June 2013 Archives or Archive Index