June 2004 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:

• 2/21/04 to 7/15/04 -- Birds in Japanese prints at the Worcester Art Museum

Bird Sightings:

6/30/04 -- Alta Vista Farm, Rutland

I drove out to Alta Vista Farm in Rutland in search of the Cliff Swallows. One of the farmers told me that they never returned this spring. To encourage nesting, the farmer had placed several clay Cliff Swallow nesting supports under the eves of the large barn and these were used by the Cliff Swallows last year. This year they were not even being used by the House Sparrows. There were, not surprisingly, large numbers of Barn Swallows at the farm. (report and photo from Bob Ricci).

6/30/04 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston

According to Fran McMenemy, loons have nested on an island in South Bay. The nest is located only a few hundred yards from the highway (route 140) and I was able to photograph one of the loons sitting on the nest. (report and photo from Bob Ricci).

6/30/04 -- No town Resevior, Leominster

On the commute into work today I stopped to check on the Common Loons at Notown Res. I had seen a single adult last week 6/24 swimming near the highway as I drove past. Today I could see 2 adults present at the far side. I had no scope with but there appeared (I stress appeared) to be an object or two that COULD've been young. This was a long look (at least a 1/2 mile) through hand held binocular so I could've been mistaken, so a re-check will be in order. (report from Tom Pirro).

6/28/04 -- North Central Mass

This evening I checked a few lakes in north Central Mass. for Common Loon activity:

Fitchbury Resevior (Ashby, Middlesex County): Two adults were observed for apporx 30 minutes, no young were seen as these two adults swam and dove. Most of their activity was in the area of a very small island and a man made nesting raft. The pair eventually moved on some distance away from island area.

Upper Naukeg Lake (Ashburnham, Worcester County): One adult present for approx. 30 minutes, NO 2nd adult was seen leaving some hope the other adult may still be tending a nest (hopefully). One adult Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen fly over the water and into the forest.

Lake Wompanoag (Gardner/Ashburnham): 2 adults present at the far end of the lake from Raymond Road, near a small island. However friday night 6/25, both adults were together and well away from the islands near Raymond road. Both adults were diving making it appeared there was no young present. (report from Tom Pirro).

6/27/04 -- Paradise Pond, Princeton

The two Common Loons on Paradise Pond in Princeton were out and about sporting their two newly hatch chicks yesterday afternoon. These chicks were very small and perhaps are just a day or two old. The adults were feeding them very small fish, two species it appeared, one of which was minnow shaped and the other deeper bodied (perhaps tiny sunfish). The chicks could not swallow the deeper bodies fish (not for lack of trying) but they could manage to swallow the minnow type (thinner shaped) fish after 4 or 5 attempts. When a chick would drop the fish the adult would promptly retieve it, "chew it" with its bill, and present it again until the youngster would finnally swallow it. Both young did spend some time riding on the back of one of the adults, at times tucked under the wings of the parent they were not visible at all. On several occasions both adults dove for food and left the young unattended for 30-60 seconds, the two chicks would then move toward each other. Two times the young interacted with each other, "locking" bills in a very brief wrestling match and once one grabbed the other by the nap with its bill...so perhaps a pecking order is being established. I observed one Cliff Swallow over the pond. (report from Tom Pirro).

6/27/04 -- Ware River Watershed

We ran a rather late in the month annual BBS of a section of the Ware River Watershed IBA: essentially the area between Rutland SP and Barre Falls Dam. This is the area and the dirt roads I have detailed in the description in the Western MA guide. This area constitutes about one third of the total IBA area. Complete survey list here (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/26/04 -- downtown Worcester

I stopped down to see the Peregrine Falcons this morning: two of the chicks are out of the nest and on the ledge of the bank one was eating the other testing flight. The adults were both present, one eating a bird and the feathers were flying . This should be a great show to watch. You can see them from the parking lot behind the main library. (report from John Shea).

6/26/04 -- Pulaski /Geo Washington SP Burrillville/Glocester

We conducted one of our counts along a standard route over the network of dirt roads that runs between these two areas, though it is "of a piece" and a single contiguous parcel. This area is used by campers, fishermen, hunters and unfortunately, many ATVs. Still, birds persist. Typically every year we try conduct a BBS of this area, but this year because of other commitments, this count is at least a week late which may have affected the totals of some species. We checked hemlocks for Wooly Adelgid. There was some found and many trees affected last year remain damaged, but overall, there seems to have been some retreat...at least for now. Weather was overcast, but showers held off. Wood Duck (3); Broad-winged Hawk (2ad+3imm); Red-tailed Hawk (3ad+1imm); Ruffed Grouse (1); Mourning Dove (9); N. Saw-whet Owl (1); Downy Woodpecker (6); Hairy Woodpecker (3); N. Flicker (2); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E. Wood Peewee (14); E. Phoebe (4); Great Crested Flycatcher (6); E. Kingbird (3); Blue-headed Vireo (10); Red-eyed Vireo (44); Blue Jay (7); A. Crow (2); Tree Swallow (6); Barn Swallow (7); Black-capped Chickadee (47); Tufted Titmouse (24); Red-breasted Nuthatch (3); White-breasted Nuthatch (16); Brown Creeper (4); House Wren (1); Winter Wren (1); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (9); Veery (31); Hermit Thrush (27); Wood Thrush (3); A. Robin (25); Gray Catbird (16);

WARBLERS: Chestnut-sided (9); Yellow-rumped (6); Black-throated Green (17); Blackburnian (4); Pine (26); Prairie (3); Black and White (6); A. Redstart (3); Ovenbird (60); Northern Waterthrush (2); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); C. Yellowthroat (12); Canada (1);

Scarlet Tanager (30); Eastern Towhee (33); Chipping Sparrow (31); Field Sparrow (1); N. Cardinal (2); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Indigo Bunting (1); Red-winged Blackbird (4); C. Grackle (6); Brown-headed Cowbird (8); Baltimore Oriole (4); Purple Finch (3); A. Goldfinch (6); PLUS: E. Painted Turtle laying eggs; White-tailed Deer, about 50+ Red Squirrels, and most surprising (5); Red-backed Voles which were very active first thing this morning. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/23/04 -- Providence St., Worcester

There is a nesting pair of Kestrels on Marion Ave. off Providence ST. behind the old ST. Vincent's Hospital. (report from John Shea).

6/21/04 -- Wachusett Meadows Sanctuary, Princeton

Yesterday(6/20) and again this am a Yellow-billed cuckoo has appeared at the cottage complimenting a Black-billed that has been around for several weeks. The biggest suprise, however, is 5 Pine siskins this am at the thistle feeder near the parking lot. 2 brightly colored males. Todays date ties the latest date for spring/summer siskin sightings here. (report from Dick Knowlton).

6/21/04 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At noon there were 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons, 1 adult and 1 1st yr imm. The adult was first seen at the mouth of the channel coming in from the back side of the pond, and was visible from the main shore down from the tennis courts. Then it flew to the secluded cove between the island and the apartments, where it joined the immature bird. (report from Rick Quimby).

6/20/04 -- Brooks Woodland Preserve & Gate 33, Quabbin Reservoir, Petersham

Superlative weather conditions accentuated the pleasure of this invigorating morning trip, punctuated by several engrossing avian dramas. The first developed at the entrance to Brooks Woodland Preserve, as a peripatetic Ovenbird ministered to the needs of two endearingly befuddled newly fledged young, steadily stuffing their yawning, cavernous bills with caterpillars, constantly emitting a nearly electric CHOCK! call note. The second concerned a marauding American Crow decimating the brood of a Red-winged Blackbird near the John Fiske Bridge. Both species were equally energetic in pursuing their respective agendas of pursuing a meal and protecting young. The stout Crow skillfully parried every relentless peck, jab and thrust of the traumatized pair of Red-wings with devilish ease, neatly snatching youngsters from the nest while in flight and quickly gobbling them down. It deftly circled back to systematically devour all of the hapless birds' offspring. Hermit Thrush vocalization at marker numbers 47 and 33 was exemplary. Near marker numbers 21 and 22, a pair of inquisitive Black-capped Chickadees attempted to stuff nesting material into the highest recess of an old snag, only to have it plunge through its depths and reappear in a tangle at its rotted base. Their plaintive cries seemed to indicate puzzlement and mild frustration, and after 20 minutes of comical acrobatics, they abandoned their efforts. While methodically canvassing the underbrush in the vicinity of the power lines near Gate 33 of the Quabbin Reservoir, a family of Bobwhite fairly detonated out from underneath my feet, briefly materializing moments later in a tussock of dead grass before disappearing into the surrounding vegetation.

The list: American Crow 17 ; American Redstart 8 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Baltimore Oriole 2 ; Belted Kingfisher 1 ; Black-and-White Warbler 3 ; Blackburnian Warbler 4 ; Black-capped Chickadee 4 ; Black-throated Blue Warbler 6 ; Black-throated Green Warbler 9 ; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 ; Blue-headed Vireo 3 ; Bobwhite 1 ; Broad-winged Hawk 1 ; Brown Creeper 5 ; Canada Goose 4 ; Canada Warbler 1 ; Cedar Waxwing 11 ; Chimney Swift 23 ; Common Loon 5 ; Common Merganser 1 ; Common Raven 2 ; Common Yellowthroat 5 ; Eastern Kingbird 3 ; Eastern Phoebe 2 ; Eastern Wood Peewee 4 ; Great Blue Heron 1 ; Great Crested Flycatcher 2 ; Hermit Thrush 5 ; Hooded Merganser 1 ; House Wren 1 ; Least Flycatcher 6 ; Louisiana Waterthrush 2 ; Mockingbird 1 ; Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5 ; Ovenbird 4 ; Pileated Woodpecker 1 ; Pine Warbler 7 ; Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 ; Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 ; Red-eyed Vireo 8 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 ; Red-winged Blackbird 2 ; Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 ; Scarlet Tanager 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Song Sparrow 7 ; Tree Swallow 12 ; Turkey Vulture 6 ; Veery 4 ; White-breasted Nuthatch 4 ; White-throated Sparrow 3 ; Wood Thrush 2 ; Yellow Warbler 4 ; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 ; Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 ; (report from Chris Ellison).

6/19/04 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner

Hilites from a mid-afternoon walk into the Smith Street gate at High Ridge WMA follow: Mallard 1 adult with 4 young; Wood Duck 1 drake; Cuckoo 1 un ID a poor look at one in flight; House Wren 2; Ovenbird 3 (I refound a nest I had discovered about two weeks ago, I inspected it very briefly and saw that 5 newly hatched young with closed eyes were in the nest). The birding was very quiet, I had mostly gone out to check on the Ovenbird. Butterflies: Tiger Swallowtail 4 or 5; Red-spotted Purple a few that looked to be hybrids; White Admiral 2; Milbert's Tortoiseshell 4; Common Ringlet 1; Viceroy 1; Painted Lady 1; Cabbage White 2; Odes: Common Whitetail; Twelve spot skimmer; Chauk-fronted Skimmer; Green Darner; (report from Tom Pirro).

6/19/04 -- Seekonk River, RI

We conducted our annual BBS of this short and small southern terminus of the Blackstone National Corridor: from Bold and India Points to the Pawtucket line. This river is bordered by Providence and East Providence and exists as the southern end of the Blackstone before it enters the Providence River. Remember, the Blackstone River was one of the most polluted rivers in the nations historically, so it is interesting to track various species along it's legnth as the river slowly (very slowly, with setbacks) gets cleaner. Typically, June is one of the slower times along the Seekonk, which is really an important location for migrant and wintering waterfowl and gulls. Scullers and fishermen were out in force on the river. Numbers of anadramous fish still venture up from the coast, up through the legnth of Narragansett Bay, up through the the legnth of the Providence River, past the extensive dredging, and finally up through the Seekonk only to be finally confounded by old dams in Pawtucket and at the mouth of the 10 Mile River!

Double-crested Cormorant (29: almost all imms); Great Egret (3: numbers will increase with post-breeders starting in mid-July); Green Heron (1); Mute Swan (106+a pair w/4 cygnets); Canada Goose (6: no young here, but we saw numbers along the median strips of Rt. 146); Mallard (167+ 1f w/2 ducklings+1f w/5 almost fledged yng+1 f w/8 almost fledged yng. The Seekonk is one of the local hotspots for moulting Mallards who are found hiding out in groups in the edge veg); Osprey (1 pair w/2yng+ 1pair w/ nest, but we could get a good enough view into the nest+1 loner); Killdeer (2); Spotted Sandpiper (3); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (8+pair w/2 yng on the "cormorant platform" in the middle of the river. These are the only nesting gulls in the entire Corridor. As fall gets closer hundreds and sometimes thousands of gulls feed along the Seekonk through till spring, including Bonaparte's, Laughing and a few Black-headed); Common Tern (2); Landbirds were unremarkable, (we were concentrating on the river after all) but we did have E. Wood Peewee (2); E. Kingbird (2), Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Tree Swallow (45+), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (10+). We also had a nest of chickadees in a sign pole that had lost it's top and a pair of Redstarts, with the female carrying food to a nest. PLUS: one of the odd things we have found while conducting these surveys over the years are dead HORSESHOE CRABS along the upper Seekonk just south of Pawtucket, some quite huge. This location is far from the coast (20+ miles at least) and we have wondered if gulls brought them inland to here. Today we found a huge specimen, intact, but dead. The muddy, historically badly polluted shores of the Seekonk seems like a very unlikely place for this creature to be found alive, but if folks have other ideas, let me know. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/19/04 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

Although somewhat shorthanded, we conducted the 14th annual Breeding Bird Survey at the Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Worcester) today. Complete list of species recorded. (report from John Liller).

6/18/04 -- Wachusett Meadows Sanctuary, Princeton

A pair of Pine Siskins has been frequenting our feeders at the cottage today. Sometimes together and sometimes just one or the other. (report from Dick Knowlton).

6/17/04 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Highlights at noon included 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron (1st yr plumage), 1 Eastern Kingbird, 1 Warbling Vireo, 1 Pine Warbler, and a Baltimore Oriole feeding 2+ young in the nest. (report from Rick Quimby).

6/11/04 -- Roseland Rd, Worcester

A pair of Mourning Doves is nesting in a cedar tree just outside the window of Tom Keil's house on Roseland Rd. They have persevered despite roof work being done, and other disturbances. Tom was able to get this wonderful photo of mom and two nearly grown chicks as they sat in the nest. (report from Rick Quimby, photo by Tom Keil).

6/9/04 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At 2:00 pm there was again 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron (1st yr), presumably the same individual as on 6/7. It was dive-bombed by Grackles when it hopped to a different branch. (report from Rick Quimby).

6/7/04 -- Worcester

It's 8:00 P.M. and I just had a Common Nighthawk fly over my house in Worcester. (report from John Shea).

6/7/04 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Highlights at noon were 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron (1st yr), 2 Warbling Vireo, and 1 Pine Warbler. (report from Rick Quimby).

6/6/04 -- Barre Falls/Rutland State Park/Ware Watershed

On Sunday 8 members of the Forbush Bird Club spent the morning birding the Barre Falls/Rutland State Park/Ware Watershed area. A total of 68 species were recorded, with highlights of >Wood duck (3 ducklings) >Alder flycatcher >Willow flycatcher >Common Raven >Brown creeper >Eastern bluebird >Veery >Hermit thrush >Wood thrush >Cedar waxwing >Blue-headed vireo >Yellow-throated vireo >Blue-winged warbler >Yellow warbler >Chestnut-sided warbler >Yellow-rumped warbler >Black-thoated green warbler >Pine warbler >Prairie warbler >Black-and-White warbler >American redstart >Ovenbird >Northern waterthrush >Common yellowthroat >Scarlet tanager >Rose-breasted grosbeak >Indigo bunting >Eastern towhee >White-throated sparrow >Bobolink >Baltimore oriole >Purple finch. An additional treat was 3 red fox kits lounging on the rocks at the base of the dam at Barre Falls. Complete trip list here. (report from Peg Knowlton).

6/6/04 -- Blackstone National Corridor

We started the day checking two heron rookeries and then doing a standard count of the Seekonk River (between Providence and East Providence); from India/Bold Pts to the Pawtucket border:

BUCK HILL WMA, BURRILLVILLE: Just a quick hike in to the pond. Not much bird song because of the chilly overcast weather: GREAT BLUE HERON (7 active nests/13 young seen/4 adults seen, but two of them were sitting tight on the nests as if still incubating. This was odd because the young birds seen were all very far along in fledging with many flight feather in. You can get looks at these nests, with a scope, from the dike on the northeast corner); Canada Goose (pair w/2 goslings); Wood Duck (4); Hooded Merganser (1f); Wild Turkey (1); Ruffed Grouse (1); Spotted Sandpiper (1); E. Wood Peewee (4); Least Flycatcher (1); Tree Swallow (15+); Wood Thrush (3); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Warbling Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (6); Black-throated Green Warbler (1); Blackburnian Warbler (1); Black and White Warbler (2); A. Redstart (1); Ovenbird (5); Indigo Bunting (1); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Baltimore Oriole (5); PLUS: Beaver, Bull Frogs and lots of Blue Flag.

WOONSOCKET RESERVOIR, SMITHFIELD: GREAT BLUE HERON (4 nests seen w/minimally 9yng. BUT adults were seen flying over the treeline and obviously down into another rookery not visible. 8 ad seen. This is a very difficult rookery to monitor); Canada Goose (7); Mallard (3m); Spotted Sandpiper (1); E. Wood Peewee (2); Least Flycatcher (1); E. Phoebe (1); E. Kingbird (2); PURPLE MARTIN (minimally 5m+5f seen from road. The nesting boxes themselves are on VERY private property, but they are often visible from the road. They seem to be having another good year thanks to the efforts of Ray Marr); Tree Swallow (15+); N. Rough-winged Swallow (4); Barn Swallow (25+); Warbling Vireo (4); Red-eyed Vireo (6); Pine Warbler (3); A. Redstart (2);

SEEKONK RIVER: Double-crested Cormorant (58); Great Egret (1); MUTE SWAN (93+pair w/5 cygnets. Most of these bird were far up river); Canada Goose (16); Mallard (222: the vast majority of which were males); COMMON GOLDENEYE (1m: from Bold Pt); BUFFLEHEAD (1f); Osprey (2 occ nests +1 loner); Peregrine Falcon (1ad on Fleet Building seen from river); Ring-billed Gull (3); Herring Gull (88: most non adult plumage); Great Black-backed Gull (18+1ad on nest on "cormorant platform); Common Tern (2ad); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/6/04 -- Princeton and Clinton

Today Bev and I saw and photographed the nesting Loons on Paradise Pond in Princeton. The small island where the Loons are nesting is now protected by several white buoys with warning signs for boaters. We then drove to Gate 38 on Rt 110 in Clinton to photograph the Loons nesting on the raft anchored near Cemetery Island. (report and photos from Bob Ricci).

6/6/04 -- Gardner area

I checked a few Great Blue Heron colonies today: One off Louis Allain Ave in Gardner had 8 nests, including at least 19 young, one of the nests was still "covered" by an adult, I assume these young were small and being brooded.
Another colony at High Ridge WMA (Westminster); had 6 active nests (with either an Adult standing 'guard" or young in it);, another 4 nest looked to be in good repair but no adults or young could be seen, while yet another 5 nest appeared to be in disrepair and vacant.
The prize of the day was finding an Ovenbird nest, by accident, it had 5 eggs (all Ovenbird eggs);....a fine piece of architecture. (report from Tom Pirro).

6/4/04 -- Gardner Airport, Templeton

Hilites from the Gardner (in Templeton) Airport friday evening: American Bittern 1 nice views of this bird calling at the south end of the runway; Black Duck 2; Mallard 1 female with 4 young; Common Nighthawk 1 calling overhead; Black-billed Cuckoo 1; Horned Lark 1 male singing; Bank Swallow many; Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1; Baltimore Oriole 2; Rose-breasted grosbeak 1; Eastern Towhee 1; Swamp Sparrow 5; (report from Tom Pirro).

6/4/04 -- downtown Worcester

My brother got me in to see the Peregrine Falcons [nesting downtown Worcester]. I watched them thru the glass from 2 feet away. The downy chicks were sleepy, one was standing, looking at me. The falcons seem used to having visitors, though mom was still in a bad mood from having her babies banded 2 days ago. The dad is the only one not banded, The person who showed me the birds said a Mr. Davis from the wildlife Dept. was checking out the mothers band to find out where she was banded. I was told they hatched about 3 weeks ago,and are growing very fast -- the father brought them a frog the other day! The chicks have been eating a lot of smaller birds, not as many pigeons as one might suspect. (report from Brian Mulhearn).

6/4/04 -- Ridge Road, Hardwick

This morning a Pine Siskin was at our thistle feeder, the first sighting of this species here since 1/22/04. (report from Chris Buelow)

6/3/04 -- Institute Park, Worcester

The Black-crowned Night-Heron was not observed today at noon, but in its place (almost literally) was an adult Green Heron. (report from Rick Quimby).

6/2/04 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner

Hilites from a walk into High Ridge WMA (Smith Street) between 6 and 7PM last night: Canada Goose 4 adults (2Pair) with 10 young (5 yg each pair); Mallard 1 female with 11 young; Hooded Merganser 1 female; Great blue Heron 3; American Bittern 1 calling from the grassy field just inside the Smith Street gate; Virginia Rail 1 called twice from the upper marsh; Eastern Wood PeeWee 2; Alder Flycatcher 1; Great-creasted Flycatcher 1; Eastern Kingbird 1; Cedar Waxwing ~15; Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 males; Chestnut-sided Warb 1; Yellow Warb 5; Ovenbird 1; Common Yellowthroat 2; Baltimore Oriole 3. (report from Tom Pirro).

6/2/04 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Highlights at noon were 1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (ad), 2 Warbling Vireos, 1 Yellow Warbler, 2 Pine Warblers, and 1 Baltimore Oriole. (report from Rick Quimby).

6/2/04 -- downtown Worcester

My brother is a mailman downtown, he is friendly with the security guard at the building where the Peregrines are nesting. Today the security guard took my brother to see the Peregrine chicks. There are FOUR of them! He watched thru the glass from 7 feet away as an adult fed the chicks. He said they are to be banded next week. (report from Brian Mulhearn).

6/1/04 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton

Most of the Great Blue Heron nests have young ones in them. Here is a photo of two of those nests. (report and photo from Brian Mulhearn)

For previous sightings, see May 2004 Archives or Archive Index